396 18 Synthetic Biology: From Genetic Engineering 2.0 to Responsible Research and Innovation
18.5 Conclusion
SB is a nascent and innovative field of research with the potential to contribute
to the whole society by addressing some of the challenges we are facing today,
ranging from sustainable energy to green economy to environmental remedia-
tion. The industrial potential is believed to be huge, and many scientists, politi-
cians, and industrialists see SB as the key to the knowledge-based bioeconomy.
Right now the public knows little about SB, and the public awareness of the field
is growing at a slow speed as indicated by the studies on the public attitude
toward SB in Europe and in the United States. With the European conflict on the
use of GM crops still presents in many people’s minds, some fear that SB could
run into similar problems, seeing SB as a mere GE 2.0, thus halting the develop-
ment process. Other observers underline the interdisciplinary character of SB,
pointing out that it might be a real converging technology where nanotechnol-
ogy, IT, and biotechnology all come together. What is true for the technological
convergence could also be true for the public debate about the technology, of
which we have elucidated in the frames used in the public debate and the com-
parators of SB. Since SB is as much a GE as it is a form of nanotechnology and a
form of IT, the respective public image will influence the developing public per-
ception of SB. While GE contributes with the “technology as conflict” compara-
tor, nanotechnology is represented in the notion of “technology as progress,” and
IT is “technology as gadget.” As a consequence, SB might not be a GE 2.0 but
something different, something new and unique.
Findings from the studies on the public perception of SB as well as the analysis
on the frames and comparators of SB call for an innovation approach to address
these issues. SB, at least in Europe, should be developed along with an attempt to
promote a contemporary approach to technological development – RRI. This
approach takes up issues of stakeholder participation, science education, gender
equality, open access, ethics, and governance and can be seen as a comprehen-
sive approach to deal with novel technologies in an environment that does notBox 18.1 Options to implement RRI [65]● Applicants for EU research funds have to submit a statement on the ethical
aspects of their research. This could be emphasized and applied more broadly.
Additional guidance could be offered to applicants on the completion of this
section.
● Asking for a statement in each research proposal on how the research might
contribute to addressing societal challenges (similar to the outline on the con-
sideration of the Gender dimension)
● The potential contributions to societal needs and the consideration of ethical
aspects could become part of the selection criteria for research projects. So far,
proposals are assessed against (i) scientific excellence, (ii) potential impacts
(broadly defined), and (iii) management of the project. RRI aspects could be
considered as a fourth aspect or a specification of the potential impacts.