Developments in parliamentary technology assessment in Finland

The Committee for the Future in the Finnish Parliament is a unique institution with the broad remit of addressing future-related issues. Its key tasks include: the development of replies in response to the Government's account on the future; the monitoring of advances in futures studies; and the co-ordination of technology assessment (TA) activities for the Parliament. This paper gives an overview of the Committee's recent TA activities and discusses its role in the democratisation of science and technology policymaking. Issues relevant to the further shaping of parliamentary TA activities in Finland are also discussed.