Acceptance of Technology

More and more, society has become wary of technologies which are perceived to harbour possible risks. At the same time, successful implementation of new technologies rely on consumer's risk-benefit trade-offs linked to a particular technology advance.

The chemical industry is constantly in the search for innovative solutions to meet market demands for energy-saving products, renewable energy technologies or new health applications, to quote a few examples. Product developers, risk managers and the general public have a different perspective on the risks posed by a particular technological innovation. The general public tends to attribute different weights to risk and benefit depending on their familiarity with the technology. Risk managers tend to focus on risks that can be measured. The challenge lies on the attempt to reconcile both perspectives.

To improve consumer confidence in new technologies, assessment schemes should not only consider the technical aspects of risk but society's risk perception and risk-benefit trade-offs. The political and regulatory context needs to be favourable. And, a suitable communication process should facilitate the flow of information amongst scientists, risk managers and the general consumer. Understanding acceptance of new technologies will help maintain society's natural drive for innovation and, with that, the continuous improvement of our quality of life. Related links: Proceedings of the LRI 9th annual workshop (2007).