Sustainable technological development: the making of a Dutch long-term oriented technology programme

Since 1993 a new Dutch technology programme—Sustainable Technological Development—has been in operation which is sponsored by five government ministries. On a time scale of 50 years, research is started to investigate the possibilities of new technologies or technical systems that fulfil human needs as well as the requirements of sustainability. The scope of the programme is to illustrate how to initiate new technological trajectories and systems by articulation of functions to meet un- articulated long-term future demands to fulfil societal needs. The programme is analysed as a case of Constructive Technology Assessment initiated by the government and aimed at a long time scale.