New and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) applications, are a growing focus of innovation policy since they are expected to contribute to solving major societal and economic challenges. However, new technologies also raise concerns and uncertainties about their potential negative or undesirable impacts on the environment, health and security. In the recently launched "GOWELL" project, VTT is developing tools to improve the governance, guidance and utilisation of new technologies in the case of key AI and quantum computing applications being currently developed in Finland.
The governance of new technologies has been identified as a major challenge internationally. As a solution to this governance dilemma, the stronger integration of anticipatory, inclusive and directional (missions) capacities in innovation activities has been proposed particularly in the OECD context. Undergoing such a governance shift requires planning, implementing and promoting more future-alert public policy using the methods of innovative public management, including futures work and network management.
In the GOWELL project, VTT is tackling the dilemma of governing new technologies with leading European experts by exploring coordination challenges and opportunities in three areas: 1) Utilisation of AI in preventive services in social and health care, 2) Utilisation of AI in medical imaging technologies, and 3) Simulation of new materials using quantum computing. These areas represent new technologies at different stages of development, and, correspondingly, different types of governance and coordination challenges. They have also raised high expectations both in Finland and abroad.
The two-year GOWELL project, funded by Business Finland, aims to provide policy makers with practical tools, such as the "Anticipatory Governance Compass” (AG Compass), to help public sector actors improve their capabilities in foresight, learning and impact leadership regarding the governance of new technologies. The international partners of the project include leading research institutes, such as TNO (Netherlands), AIT (Austria) and RISE (Sweden). The project will be implemented by a multidisciplinary VTT research team, including innovation researchers, as well as AI and quantum computing experts.
GOWELL (Governance of new technologies towards sustainability and well-being) is a two-year research project funded by Business Finland under the Health 360 programme. The project is conducted by VTT.
