According to the visitation committee, the research of STePS is renowned worldwide and has a `major impact' on science and technology policy. The committee partly attributed the group's success to conceptual tools it uses for policy development and its willingness to research normative problems. Most notably, the members of the committee praised the constructive technology assessment developed by STePS, which offers room for normative discussion and receives worldwide response. The research of STePS offers important instruments for innovation policy on a national and European scale.
STePS is part of the Institute of Governance Studies of the School of Management and Governance. The group collaborates closely with other research centers at the UT, examining social and ethical issues about emerging technology areas, such as nanotechnology.
The visitation committee reviewed three themes of the group. These themes are Science and Innovation Policies under the supervision of professors, Stefan Kuhlmann and Rob Hoppe; Technology Dynamics and Assessment and the History of Science under Professor Nelly Oudshoorn and Technology and Society supervised by Lissa Roberts, an associate professor. All three themes received a laudatory assessment. The naming of the appointment of Roberts to professor of the research group is soon expected.
