Outline

Abstract

A workshop of researchers with European dimensions in the field of social sciences took place in Prague from February 3 to February 5, 1999 titled “From an Information Society to a Knowledge Society: Democracy — Participation — Technology Assessment”. This workshop was a common event of two institutions — it was organized by Europäische Akademie zur Erforschung von Folgen wissenschaftlich-technischer Entwicklungen, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrwei1er GmbH in cooperation with the Centre for Science, Technology, and Society Studies at the Institute of Philosophy of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. More than 40 scientists and experts of various institutions from nine European countries — from universities, academic centers and from various governmental and private organizations — participated in the conference. Approximately two thirds of participants came from EU countries and one third from the Central and East European countries. Among others the following organizations took part in the event: Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Charles University of Prague, Grant Agency of the Czech Republic, Czech Technical University of Prague, Czech Ministry of Defense, PIAS -Prague Institute of Advanced Studies, East Bohemian University of Pardubice, West Bohemian University of Plzeň, Matěj Bel University of Banská Bystrica, Silesian University of Katowice, University of Social Sciences of Tychy (Poland), Jagellonian University of Krakow, Academy of Sciences of Hungary and Technical University of Budapest, Academy of Sciences of Russia, International Institute for Global Problems (Moscow), ITAS — Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (Karlsruhe), BSI — Federal Agency for Security of Information Technologies (Bonn), Brandenburg Technical University (Cottbus), University of Potsdam, University of Merseburg (Germany), Centre for Transfer of Technologies, GmbH Rheine (Germany), FES — Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Bonn), CSTS/CNAM — Centre of Science, Technology and Society Studies, (Paris), G. W. Rathenau^l Institute (Holland), etc.