The Rathenau Institute promotes the formation of political and public opinion on science and technology. To this end, the Institute studies the organization and development of science systems, publishes about social impact of new technologies, and organizes debates on issues and dilemmas in science and technology.
The institute therefore has two key tasks:
Stimulating public debate and the formation of political judgements:
Technological and scientific developments can sometimes raise more questions than they actually answer. The Rathenau Institute highlights the significance of these developments for individuals and society, setting out both the opportunities and the risks. In the professional jargon this is known as Technology Assessment (TA).
Describing the Dutch science system:
The Rathenau Institute investigates the dynamics of science and technology. How is the science system organized, how does it respond to scientific, societal and economic developments, and to what specific scientific advances does this lead? This is called Science System Assessment (SciSA).
The Rathenau Institute is an autonomous organization which was founded by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in 1986. It is still funded by the ministry, with responsibility for governance falling to the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).