The German Bundestag honors the achievements of the Office of Technology Assessment [07.10.2010]

The 20th anniversary of the Office of Technology Assessment at the German Bundestag (TAB) was the occasion for a festive event on 29.09.2010 at the Paul-Löbe-Haus of the German Bundestag with more than 100 invited guests.

The event was opened by the President of the German Bundestag, Prof. Dr. Norbert Lammert. He underlined/emphasized the great importance of TAB as a scientific advisory body for the German Parliament and its committees. Two further speeches and a panel discussion with parliamentarians and scientists also drew a very positive balance of 20 years of technology assessment at the German Bundestag.

The next day, at a late hour, a plenary debate on parliamentary technology assessment was held at the German Bundestag. The representatives of the parliamentary parties//political groups once again took the opportunity to pay tribute to the successful work of TAB on behalf of the German Bundestag.

The fact that the funds used for TAB are “a worthwhile investment” is, moreover, the conclusion that can now be read in a current report of the Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment (Drs. 17/3010 pdf). The organizational model of parliamentary technology assessment – states the report – makes it possible to provide both needs- and addressee-oriented as well as “independent and (well-)balanced scientific policy advice.” Technology assessment has long since arrived “in the middle of the parliament”, it continues. For example, the number of requests from committees and political groups for scientific advice has been increasing continuously for years. The great need can no longer be met with the current structures and resources. The rapporteurs therefore intend to support an increase in the “budget which has remained unchanged for almost two decades.”

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