The disciplines of nanotechnology, biotechnology, ICT and the cognitive sciences are moving closer together. This ‘NBIC convergence’ is perhaps one of the most exciting developments in science and technology that we are likely to see in the twenty-first century. It is now realized that each of these technologies promotes the development of the others: there is substantial ‘cross-pollination’. The remarkable feature of the convergence is that it represents a smelting of sciences which are concerned with inanimate objects (such as computers and robots) with those which deal with living material (such as cells and genes).
In association with its Belgian sister organization viWTA, the Rathenau Institute conducted the 'Technology Assessment on converging technologies' project for the benefit of the European Parliament. The Rathenau Institute undertook a full literature study in association with the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). The resulting report describes the NBIC convergence from both a historical and technological perspective. It also examines the emerging political and ethical debate, particularly that about human enhancement. To complement the literature study, the viWTA interviewed a number of visionary thinkers (the process known as ‘vision assessment’). The interviews and the literature study were further supplemented by the report of a workshop entitled Welcome to the 21st Century: Heaven: Hell or Down to Earth?’ held on 27 June 2006. The final project report was published by STOA, the Scientific and Technological Options Assessment Institute of the European Parliament.
The Rathenau Institute is a member of the European Technology Assessment Group (ETAG), which conducts various technology assessment projects for the European Parliament. The fellow members are IST of Belgium, TAB of Germany, Teknologirådet of Sweden and the British organization POST.