Scope and priorities of science and technology policy research

A model adapted from the theory of societal systems is used to describe the present scope and function of most of today's science and technology policy (STP) and its related research. The costly externalities of the development and growth of OECD-type societies, including their copies in non-OECD-countries, have generated a new paradigm of development, that of protection of natural resources. As to the long-term future, the sustainability of the earth is being discussed. The reaction of STP research to these paradigmatic changes is relatively weak and slow. Related future tasks of STP research are outlined to complement its present dominating focus.