AAAS 2012 Vancouver | February 17th
Economic crises and the role
of science
Barend van der Meulen | 1 | JST session Redesigning the Governance of STI after the Earthquake
Introduction
AAAS 2012 Vancouver | February 17th
Disasters and crises have a familiar answer: more
investments in knowledge
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Flood Disaster 1953 Netherlands
Sputnik Shock 1957 US
Ozone hole
1985 Global
Global warming 1988-...
Global
9/11
2001 US - Global
Earthquake
2011 Japan
Economic crisis 2008 // Euro crisis 2011
Barend van der Meulen | 2 | JST session Redesigning the Governance of STI after the Earthquake
Flood disaster 1953 Netherlands
AAAS 2012 Vancouver | February 17th
Barend van der Meulen | 3 | JST session Redesigning the Governance of STI after the Earthquake
Sputnik Shock 1957
AAAS 2012 Vancouver | February 17th
Barend van der Meulen | 4 | JST session Redesigning the Governance of STI after the Earthquake
Global warming
1988-…
AAAS 2012 Vancouver | February 17th
Barend van der Meulen | 5 | JST session Redesigning the Governance of STI after the Earthquake
Economic crisis 2008 // 2011
AAAS 2012 Vancouver | February 17th
Two observations
1. The crisis comes not
from outside, and
science is part of the
problem.
2. Calls for investments in
basic science come
with claims that
revenues will take 20years
Barend van der Meulen | 6 | JST session Redesigning the Governance of STI after the Earthquake
Science and the crisis I: economics
AAAS 2012 Vancouver | February 17th
• Trigger: the destruction of the housing market.
• Is there no science involved? There is!
Sociology of knowledge applied to markets and finance
show how financial practices are entangled with knowledge,
technology and information. (eg MacKenzie, Knorr-Cetina, Callon)
• Theoretical misfits:
• Distribution of risks
• Possibilities of markets to correct greed
• Role of big firms as stabilizing institutions
Barend van der Meulen | 7 | JST session Redesigning the Governance of STI after the Earthquake
Role of science in crisis II: NBIC
AAAS 2012 Vancouver | February 17th
Kondratieff waves
• New science and
technology
• New economic sectors
and growth
• New international
balances
Barend van der Meulen | 8 | JST session Redesigning the Governance of STI after the Earthquake
International scientific
portfolios
AAAS 2012 Vancouver | February 17th
Former soviet:
Chemistry,
Mechanics
New Asian
NBIC
US - Europe
Physics, Health
Barend van der Meulen | 9 | JST session Redesigning the Governance of STI after the Earthquake
The Netherlands, Massachussetts,
South-Korea
AAAS 2012 Vancouver | February 17th
Economic crisis is part of a global economic and
scientifid shift
Barend van der Meulen | 10 | JST session Redesigning the Governance of STI after the Earthquake
First conclusions / lessons
AAAS 2012 Vancouver | February 17th
1. Disasters have usual response: more science
2. But science is not only a solution but part of the
problem
3. Science and practices entangled in
“scientific-technological-social paradigms”
4. Challenge for risk control is to organize diversity
in science and society
5. Challenge for STI governance in Europe to
reform STI institutions
Barend van der Meulen | 11 | JST session Redesigning the Governance of STI after the Earthquake
Effects on science: Europe 2008
AAAS 2012 Vancouver | February 17th
Different starting
positions
- Science intensive
countries UK, GE,
FR, CH, NL, SU
- Many small
countries catching
up: CEEC
Barend van der Meulen | 12 | JST session Redesigning the Governance of STI after the Earthquake
EU response: New Horizon 2020
AAAS 2012 Vancouver | February 17th
Excellent Science
• European Research
Council
• Future & Emergent
Technology
• Training and career
• Infrastructures
Industrial Leadership
Societal Challenges
• Health and demographic
• leadership in Key
change
Enabling Technologies
• access to risk finance • Food security
• Secure and clean energy
• Smart transport
• innovation in SMEs
• Climate and resource
efficiency
• Inclusive societies
€ 24 598 million
€ 17 938 million
€ 31 748 million
Barend van der Meulen | 13 | JST session Redesigning the Governance of STI after the Earthquake
National responses: mix
AAAS 2012 Vancouver | February 17th
• Investments in science, policies to restructure the
science system and breed European Top
Universities within global competition
(eg Denmark, Germany, France)
• No new budgets and policies to link universities
closer to industry
(eg UK, Netherlands)
• New budgets cuts especially in countries suffering
from the Eurocrisis
(eg Greece, Portugal, etc.)
Barend van der Meulen | 14 | JST session Redesigning the Governance of STI after the Earthquake
European struggle
AAAS 2012 Vancouver | February 17th
Securing the
science system
- European identity
- strong in scientific
output and impact
- weak links with
economy
- Institutional inert
Building an
innovation system
- European paradox
- Emphasising societal
challenges
- University industry
collaborations
- Institutional reforms
Barend van der Meulen | 15 | JST session Redesigning the Governance of STI after the Earthquake
Three possible outcomes
AAAS 2012 Vancouver | February 17th
Scenario 1: Horizon 2020 results in a European
knowledge area with integrated processes
of research, innovation and higher education
Scenario 2: Horizon 2020 is obstructed by national
ressentiments and results in more
complexity and further institutional inertia.
Scenario 3: Horizon 2020 and national policies
together create European winners and
national losers
Barend van der Meulen | 16 | JST session Redesigning the Governance of STI after the Earthquake
Final conclusions / lessons
AAAS 2012 Vancouver | February 17th
1. But science is not only a solution but part of the
problem
2. Challenge for risk control is to organize diversity
in science and society
3. Challenge: new governance of science,
technology and innovation
4. But science as a solution creates struggles about
the role of science and its position
5. Danger: more scientific research but without
restructuring may create more lock-ins
Barend van der Meulen | 17 | JST session Redesigning the Governance of STI after the Earthquake