About ISSTI

The Institute for the Study of Science and Technology and Innovation, was established to carry forward and consolidate the interdisciplinary network of socio-economic research on technology developed and hosted since 1986 around the Research Centre for the Social Sciences (RCSS), directed by Professor Robin Williams. Coordinated by RCSS, ISSTI brings together specialist research groups and centres at the University of Edinburgh including the Science Studies Unit and the Research Centre for the Social Sciences in the School of Social and Political Sciences, the Japanese European Technology Studies (JETS) and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation group in the Management School and Economics.

This network builds upon the expertise and collaboration established through Edinburgh PICT Centre, a research centre under the prestigious Programme on Information and Communications Technologies (1987-95) - the main UK social science research programme on technology funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Further funding has been obtained from ESRC, the European Commission, and other bodies including the Scottish Higher Education Funding Research Council, the UK Department of Trade and Industry, and industry to carry forward this research, and maintain specialist resources for undertaking and disseminating research.

The Research Programme

An extensive research programme has been developed into the 'social shaping of technology' which emphasises interdisciplinary approaches, encompassing economic and social dimensions, and the close interaction between 'socio-economic' and 'technical' factors. A growing attention to matters of science and technology policy has been facilitated by the formation of the Scottish Universities Policy, Research and Advice (SUPRA) network, located in RCSS, which has addressed issues such as innovation policy and Foresight.

Much of this work is in close collaboration with technical specialists - including a major award the EPSRC Dependability of computing Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration (DIRC) to Edinburgh and four other UK Universities.

The work on Information and Communications Technologies has been complemented by a growing programme focused on biotechnology, culminating in the prestigious ESRC Centre for Social and Economic Research on Innovation in Genomics (INNOGEN).