Role of Technology in Addressing Societal Challenges - New Governance

Technology and data can bring opportunities for increased societal benefits for example regarding health, environmental sustainability and energy. There can be clashes between regimes which aim to bring these benefits about, and the outcomes which are dictated if one looks to only laws and regimes with a focus on technology and data, notably information and intellectual property (IP) laws. A recent example of a clash was seen between IP, human rights and health in relation to COVID-19. This study is part of a project exploring the place and impact of clashes on the operation of regimes and possible new potential forms of governance, structure and regime creation which could be developed. The project will explore the establishment and operation of the Scottish Public Benefit and Privacy Panel for Health and Social Care. It will also explore approaches to data and technology in the UK oil and gas licensing framework; a developing new international regime in relation to marine biodiversity, benefit sharing and technology transfer; and approaches in Scotland and in England to private or public ownership and licensing of soil and environmental data, including those funded by research councils. It may also include the European data strategy and the development of the pan African free trade agreement and its approach to IP. Some of these regimes engage directly with laws relating to data and technology, notably private rights, information control and IP; some do not. The study will interrogate, through qualitative research with key figures who and are involved, the drivers for structural approaches being taken; levels of engagement in creating and operating new regimes with regime and laws focussed on data and technology; and the possible impact of data and technology regimes on the new regimes' wider goals.