Technical democracy and the role of the scientific third sector

A new science-society contract is emerging. It is based on the notion of participation. In line with the increasing political importance of scientific and technological choices, on the one hand, and living in a world with spillover effects, on the other, it calls for all players to be given their rightful place, and for collective reflection to be encouraged (Box 1).

This contract is based on the idea that the emergence of solutions that are both technically better and socially more robust will come from a systematic confrontation of the options put forward by different players, with their diverse experience, knowledge and representations. It's also the idea that "the involvement of stakeholders with diverse viewpoints and knowledge...