Neurotechnologies are opening new possibilities in medicine and medical technology: they are already helping patients with Parkinson's disease and stroke, in the rehabilitation of neurological disorders, and in restoring hearing and visual functions. Innovations such as brain-computer interfaces, neurostimulation and digital brain twins are improving the quality of life for people around the world. A new Foresight Brief addresses the responsible development of neurotechnologies, focusing primarily on the Austrian perspective.
This dynamic raises key questions that are already being discussed politically at international level – and are also of concern to Austria: How can neural data be protected? Are new regulatory frameworks needed? What social consequences can be expected – including the risk of division, dependence on technology companies or restrictions on cognitive freedom and autonomy?
The brief discusses opportunities and risks and also makes recommendations regarding strategic development:
Opportunities
- Treatment of neurological diseases and improvement of quality of life
- New economic and research fields and growing markets
- Applications for optimising cognitive performance
Risks
- Ethical challenges and unclear rules for handling neural data
- Legal grey areas in non-medical applications
- Growing dependence on large technology companies
- Danger of exaggerated expectations and hype (neuromyths)
Recommendation
- Austria should develop a forward-looking neurotechnology strategy that takes into account and brings together research & development, regulation and social dialogue
The foresight brief was written as part of the Transformative Pathways and Strategies project and was developed by Wenzel Mehnert and Alexandra Csabi from the AIT Center for Innovation Systems & Policy.
The brief is now available for download.
Learn more about the project Transformative Pathways and Strategies.