Eigenverlag/Self

Abstract:
This article describes in detail the three-decades-long development of institutionalised technology assessment (TA) in Austria. The storyline starts in the early 1980s, leading to the foundation of the first TA working group at a pre-existing researchinstitute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in 1985. This group was later detached as an individual unit and developedinto the Institute of Technology Assessment in 1994. In the second main section, the authors analyse longitudinal developments, including: the advances of the thematic portfolio; the on-off relationship to Parliament over time; the increasing international standing and networking activities; the growth in staff; and the advances of outreach and public communication; allleading to the ITA as it is known today.