Role of Technology Assessment in Science Policy

Abstract:  One of the major barriers to conducting technology assessments is the absence of a data infrastructure from which analytics can be performed.  The absence of a data structure is particularly acute when conducting technology assessments that involve international markets and require private sector data.   The Federal “Science of Science Policy” initiative has examined this issue and is sponsoring a number of efforts, including STAR METRICS, designed to provide the data needed to do global technology assessments in energy, health and other technology sectors.   This presentation will review current efforts to construct data infrastructures for technology assessments and the impact that poor data has technology assessment efforts.