Table 1 Comparison of three TA organizations in Europe*

Impact

“Impact is difficult to assess due to the logistical and administrative obstacles… POST is one of many organizations delivering commentary on scientific issues”. Qualitative and quantitative data indicates that POST is a valued organization. “POSTnotes are particularly valued for their impartiality”. 2009 survey data indicated that “over 80% of parliamentarians (out of a sample of 50) had used POSTnotes more than once in the past year.” “POSTnotes are known to have considerable impact outside Parliament [and] usually account for around a third of all downloads from the Parliamentary website”. POST also has over 7,500 followers on Twitter, and a newsletter which has over 3,500 subscribers.

OPECST has progressively “become an acknowledged instrument of parliamentary action. Several laws make provision either for it to be informed of, or to participate in the appointment of representatives of Parliament to various bodies, or for its representation, by its President or one of its members, on the board of directors of various organisations.” It contributes to the development of international parliamentary relations (particularly via EPTA). OPECST has become a special interlocutor for the scientific community and maintains close links with it. Its events and conferences bring together OPECST and high-level scientific organizations. “In the near future, OPECST would like to continue to strengthen its missions and, in particular, to play a role in furthering the exchange between the political and scientific worlds.”

“Political decision makers rely on assessments which show the consequences and social impact of technologies. The work of TA-SWISS is widely recognized for its quality and the impartiality of its assessments. It is vital for TA-SWISS to continually strive for these qualities in order to maintain support from all political parties”. TA-Swiss—reports are often cited in committee reports and in chamber debates but can also be used in other forums such as the government, local authorities etc. Most of the committee seminars are webcast and broadcast on television.

Institutional Location

Internal.

Office based within parliamentary offices and located on the parliamentary estate.

Internal.

Office based within parliamentary offices and located on the parliamentary estate.

External.

Office is a Centre of Competence of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Science located away from the parliamentary estate.

Generation of questions

Proactive and reactive.

Topics are selected through horizon scanning by the POST team and requests from MPs and/or parliamentary staff. Questions are co-produced by POST team and POST Board (comprising 14 parliamentarians from the House of Commons [10] and Lords [4]; external science and technology specialists [4]; ex-officio representatives from the House of Commons and Lords).

Reactive.

All topics are determined and proposed by MPs (matters can be referred to OPECST at the request of a chair of a political group, a request of 60 deputies or 40 senators, or a request of a special or permanent commission).

Proactive and reactive.

Horizon scanning by TA-Swiss team, with selection overseen by executive committee (around 15 members with different professional competences and institutional backgrounds).

Outputs

Format:

Format:

Format:

Written briefings—mostly four-page summary briefs (POSTnotes)

Events—smaller events held for MPs and Peers (often linked to POSTnote publication topics), occasional larger events and exhibitions

Oral briefings—to MPs and Peers and/or parliamentary staff by request

Legislative reports—recording MPs views on the technical content of the TA question (supported by scientific input)

Summary reports—four-page summary versions of legislative reports

Public hearings—gathering the views of leading figures and organizations (outputs may be annexed to legislative report)

Symposiums and conferences—larger policy / public meetings

Technical reports—large books which collate detailed, contemporary technical knowledge on the topic

Summary reports—which summarize the key technical and policy-relevant content of reports

Public presentations—workshops and debates to encourage participation

Generation of outputs

Internal topical expertise from POST team sections (social sciences, energy and environment, physical sciences and ICT, and biological sciences and health), review of existing evidence base and interviews with relevant experts across academia, industry, government, NGO, civil society and so on. Outputs are peer reviewed by external experts before publication.

Guidance from OPECST team in assisting a nominated parliamentary rapporteur to undertake the process of creating a record of conversations between MPs on the topic, based on preliminary technical content. Organization of public hearings may also be part of this process. Report generation is overseen by rapporteurs and a scientific standing committee.

Tendering for expertise to external, topical scientific research groups (self-formed 10–20 persons with appropriate professional competences). All assessments are project managed by a member of the TA-Swiss team, guided by the executive committee (mixed expertise) and a monitoring group (technical expertise) formed for the purpose