Project description
Fostering a future that aligns with human rights and societal values
Advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, robots and human gene editing are becoming increasingly prevalent, and the ethical implications of such advancements cannot be overlooked. The EU-funded SIENNA project brings together 13 partners to explore the pressing ethical and human rights challenges posed by human genomics, human enhancement, and artificial intelligence and robotics. While these advancements promise incredible benefits, they are also a source of significant concern over issues like personal autonomy and privacy, and equality and accountability. SIENNA aims to untangle this ethical web, surveying citizens, conducting interviews with experts, hosting workshops and crafting frameworks. By doing so, it paves the way for responsible research and innovation.
Objective
SIENNA is a three and a half year project with 11 core partners and 2 associate partners, focussing on ethical and human rights challenges posed by human genomics, human enhancement and human-machine interaction technologies such as robots and smart devices. While these technologies offer significant benefits to individuals and society, they also present significant ethical challenges, e.g. in relation to human autonomy, equality, personal liberty, privacy, and accountability. In collaboration with a variety of stakeholders, SIENNA will identify and assess the ethical and socio-economic issues, public opinions, legal regulation and human rights implications of each technology. It will produce a framework for each of the three technologies that will form the basis for the development of research ethics protocols, professional ethical codes, and better ethical and legal frameworks. Before developing their recommendations, the partners will gather ethical views of experts and citizens towards the three technologies in four ways: (1) a major survey of citizens in 11 countries within and outside the EU; (2) panels of citizens in five countries; (3) interviews with experts and stakeholders; (4) workshops with stakeholders including scientists, ethicists, research ethics committees, professional organisations, civil society organisations, industry and policy makers. SIENNA will boost the EU’s leadership in developing ethical standards and support its vision of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) as a means to foster the design of inclusive research and innovation. The project will improve knowledge of the ethical, human rights and socio-economic impacts of the three technologies, while supporting ethical and responsible decision making by research ethics committees, scientific researchers and policy makers in the three areas. SIENNA will also create added value by generalising its methods for use in other emerging technological domains.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligence
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgenetics
- social sciencespolitical sciencespolitical policiescivil society
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringrobotics
- social scienceslawhuman rights
Keywords
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.5.f. - Develop the governance for the advancement of responsible research and innovation by all stakeholders, which is sensitive to society needs and demands and promote an ethics framework for research and innovation Main Programme
- H2020-EU.5.g. - Take due and proportional precautions in research and innovation activities by anticipating and assessing potential environmental, health and safety impacts
- H2020-EU.5.c. - Integrate society in science and innovation issues, policies and activities in order to integrate citizens' interests and values and to increase the quality, relevance, social acceptability and sustainability of research and innovation outcomes in various fields of activity from social innovation to areas such as biotechnology and nanotechnology
Funding Scheme
CSA - Coordination and support actionCoordinator
7522 NB Enschede
Netherlands