Growth is limited by ecological limits. Regulation is necessary to spur environmental innovation. There is a conflict between short term decision making and long term problems. What is technology policy of integration beyond individual country policies. Regulation is needed as an expression of public sentiment and power in order to make multinational corporations accountable.
Social investment is critical for technological innovation.
We are in need of social institutions which could reconceptualize work and the meaning of quality of life in ways corresponding to innovation and technological changes. Techno-mercantilism emerging in the USA may hinder linkages between environmental and technology policies. The following comments and questions were from conference participants. Ted Schrecker asked whether very broad patent protection of life forms did not amount to a kind of techno-merchantilism. These different motivations have led to a very different focus in integration.