Towards more ethical research and technology development
Backed by EU funding, the EGAIS (The Ethical Governance of Emerging Technologies. New governance perspectives for integrating ethics into technical development projects and applications) project sought to deliver the means for balancing technology and ethics. The approach targeted the integration of ethical thinking in technological development and enhancing related governance mechanisms. To this end, the EGAIS team examined ethical governance procedures in EU-funded ICT research projects and how the EU monitors ethical aspects of emerging technologies. It also investigated how ethical norms are constructed and implemented in projects. Empirical analysis data were collected from technical research projects funded under the Sixth and Seventh Framework Programmes (FP6 and FP7 respectively) and related to ambient intelligence. This allowed a representative study of ICT research projects and identification of the different types of ethical governance and reflexivity used in EU projects. Research was extended to other fields of technological development (e.g. nanotechnology, nuclear technology, hazardous activities) and their related ethics and governance issues (e.g. innovation and design). Several workshops were held to elaborate on how the concept of comprehensive proceduralism can be employed to improve ethical governance. This joins rule-based (procedural), context-based (reflexive) and value-based (substantive) approaches. It also calls for engaging different actors such as technology users and even non-users in the ethics debate. This work led to a set of guidelines for policymakers and researchers that assist in planning, implementing and assessing ethical governance in research. Research results were used to outline issues and challenges involved in integrating the consideration of ethics in EU projects. This served as a basis for developing an ethics governance approach. Overall, project developments support a more ethical European Research Area (ERA), redefine the way science and technology operate in the EU, and shift focus to the real needs of the stakeholders. EGAIS developed a framework for governance mechanisms better able to identify and address potential ethical issues in the early stages of development. By embedding ethical considerations in the development of technological research projects, EGAIS emphasised society's interests first and foremost and supported an improved EU research and technology development culture. Project outcomes have potential for application in other emerging fields such as nanotechnologies, biodiversity and converging technologies.
Keywords
Ethical research, technology development, emerging technologies, technology and ethics, ethical governance
