National Science & Technology Commission (NSTC) and Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP) have ed ‘The Analysis Technology of Big Data and its Utilization’ as the subject of technology assessment in 2012 and will seek a broad range of feedback from the general public on the topic.

The institutes have carried out technology assessment every year to maximize the positive impact of new technological development while preventing the potential side effects of new technologies in a bid to figure out desirable directions of technological development and possible policy measures.

The assessment examines the effects of new technologies not only on the related industries’ technologies and economy but also on society, culture, ethics and the environment.

NSTC and KISTEP, therefore, have Experts Council composed of experts in the relevant new technologies, scholars in social sciences and civic activists evaluate new technologies thoroughly. This year, the institutes are planning to collect more varied perspectives through such programs as ’Citizen Forums’ and ‘Online Citizen Participation Programs.’