Humanities and social sciences, bioeconomy

The aim of this research axis will be to examine how the concrete elements contained in the program can scientifically, philosophically, or socially question paradigms such as nature/artificiality or machine/living, for example.

Indeed, the realization of the potential of industrial biotechnology as a driver of the bioeconomy relies on major systemic socio-economic transformations. The transition to the bioeconomy is not limited to the development of new bio-based products, as it involves the creation of new value chains, new manufacturing processes and standards, new organizational structures, and the formation of new markets.

The objective is thus to establish the conditions for multidisciplinary reflection. It is indeed necessary for the program's stakeholders to benefit from an academic perspective throughout the research process, brought by the Humanities and Social Sciences. These cross-disciplinary perspectives will help properly align the tools and methods of biotechnologies with disciplines that enable the various project stakeholders to grasp as precisely as possible the issues related to societal and ethical questions tied to the development of biotechnologies. These tools and methods can indeed impact not only the properties of natural ecosystems but also, in a completely different realm, the social representations at the very heart of contemporary ethical questions.

To this end, several calls for expressions of interest will be launched at the beginning of the program to result in projects that aim to understand the underlying mechanisms of transition processes and to design the methodologies and tools necessary to overcome obstacles and promote virtuous trajectories that will contribute to the common good.

Winner of the 2024 call for expressions of interest :

• HEARTS : humanities and ethics in advancing responsible technologies for sustainable bioengineering.