Discover the new report that helps to (re-)consider the relation between society and nature in further developing the Science, Technology and Innovation policy strategy.
In a rapidly changing world grappling with complex and urgent sustainability and environmental challenges, Europe has responded through the European Green Deal. This initiative seeks to propel Europe towards a sustainable future while cementing its leadership in implementing the UN Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals. The COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical shifts have intensified the need for swift transitions and transformative resilience.
At the heart of the European Green Deal lies a vision – a pristine planet by 2050. Achieving this ambitious goal hinges on the pivotal role of science, technology, and innovation (STI), particularly through technological and social innovation.
Historically, human performance has been the driving force behind scientific and technological advancements. However, current global challenges are deeply intertwined with the health of our planet. It is time to shift our focus from enhancing human performance to the more inclusive concept of “ecosystem performance”. This transformation is the cornerstone of the STI for 2050 report.
The project’s mission is to identify and map future scientific and technological developments that can revolutionise ecosystem performance, providing valuable insights for the 2nd strategic plan of Horizon Europe, with a focus on supporting the Sustainable Development Goals.
The project commenced by identifying the most dynamic STI areas worldwide using the extensive resources of Microsoft Academic, a freely accessible academic search engine. From a pool of 1’000 dynamic STI topics, 130 STI directions spanning 21 domains were selected for further exploration, encompassing the application of Delphi and scenario development methodologies.
In parallel, the project delved into the concept of “Ecosystem Performance” through an extensive literature review. This revealed a variety of approaches influenced by varying perspectives on the relationship between humanity and nature, and our responsibility for the health of our planet. Three fundamental perspectives emerged:
- Protecting & Restoring: Focusing on managing human impact to achieve desired environmental targets.
- Co-shaping socio-ecological systems: Emphasising the steering of system dynamics toward long-term survival.
- Immersing & Caring within hybrid collectives: Rooted in ethical care and negotiation with other inhabitants of critical zones to facilitate flourishing on their own terms.
To identify promising future scientific and technological developments, the project conducted a Dynamic Argumentative Delphi survey involving highly cited researchers. These experts prioritised top STI directions and identified potential harms that could affect planetary ecosystems. Results were compiled into Future Sheets for each domain, offering insights into the most popular STI directions, practical applications, and potential risks.
Collaborative online workshops with foresight experts and stakeholders led to the identification of six case study topics. These topics promise to elevate ecosystem performance through STI, providing innovative narratives that can inform the programming and implementation of Horizon Europe.
The expectations of science and technology have evolved. In the early 2000s, the focus was on enhancing human performance, but the authors stressed that we have now shifted our gaze toward addressing global threats to both human and planetary health. This shift is evident in the ever-evolving landscape of dynamic STI domains. Fields like ecology & environmental health, environmental planning & engineering, and agriculture sciences & engineering have surged alongside artificial intelligence, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and data sciences.
The confluence of crises, including climate change, the pandemic, and geopolitical shifts, underscores the need for a broader perspective to accelerate transitions and reach climate neutrality by 2050. Policymakers must reconsider the relationship between society and nature as one shapes an STI policy strategy, the European Green Deal, and the biodiversity strategy for 2030. The case studies and scenarios, inspired by different perspectives, must enrich the STI policy strategy and emphasise thematic focus, research directions, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the inclusive incorporation of non-scientific knowledge to shape a sustainable future.