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New INNOGEN Centre Will Help Shape Future Science And Technology Policy

November 13, 2002

Experts in science, technology, economics and law will explore the impacts of genomics on society, and of society on genomics and related industry sectors, at a new centre set up at the University of Edinburgh. The centre, INNOGEN, funded by a major award of £2m, will act as a 'melting pot' for knowledge and information, as specialists examine the profound consequences of the emergence of genomics on health, welfare, prosperity and the environment.
        
INNOGEN, which links the University of Edinburgh with the Open University, will draw together current information gleaned from scientists, industry, policy makers and public interest groups and contribute to the shaping of policies affecting issues like biotechnology, food production, health care and pharmaceutical advances in developed and developing countries.
        
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)2 Interdisciplinary Centre for Social and Economic Research on Innovations in Genomics -INNOGEN- has been formed to look at the effect on society of genomics and related current developments on the life science industry. Specialists will examine the structure and dynamics of this sector, the influence of policy, law and society upon it, and the way this impacts on everyday life.
        
Said Director, Professor Joyce Tait: "We aim to build an internationally respected Centre to enable social scientists and the ESRC to take a leading role in policy, public and innovation-related debates on life science issues, and to contribute to the shaping of the biotechnology trajectory from a well-informed, evidence-based position.

        "We will conduct a strong, innovative programme of fundamental and applied social science research; engage with the scientific community and other stakeholders and contribute to the forming of policies in key areas."
        
The themes to be researched will be: Science, Innovation and Knowledge Management; and Risk, Governance and Regulation. Topics include innovation processes in the genomics industry sectors; the public and private organization of genetic information; national and international policy environment for genomics; and exploring the power of knowledge and technology flows in Latin America, Asia and Africa.
        
The Open University welcomed the initiative and David Wield, Co-Director of the ESRC Centre said: "The Open University team is very pleased to bring its expertise in industrial dynamics, industry-academic research links, risk, and international development together with Edinburgh's major strengths. This is a wonderful opportunity to build on a long standing and productive collaboration with the University of Edinburgh that will produce world class and globally useful research'.

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