Emerging crossover technologies: How to organize a biotechnology that becomes mainstream?

Abstract

Applications and techniques in biotechnology are rapidly integrating both inside and outside the life sciences. Techniques such as CRISPR-Cas are embraced as a one-size-fits-all tool in agricultural, environmental, medical and industrial biotechnology. Biotechnology merges with other technologies in amongst others synthetic biology, bionanotechnology and 3D bioprinting. These international developments are also confronted with both regulatory and societal challenges from the perspective of emerging risks, the socially contested status of genetically modified organisms and international regulatory differences. This brings forward the question how to organize innovation, safety and societal embedding of a scientifically normalizing—and therefore no longer separately visible—technology. This article highlights the overarching issues in biotechnology developments from a societal and regulatory perspective. Furthermore, recommendations are made on how to initiate responsible governance of a biotechnology that becomes mainstream.