The volume edited by Rodríguez, Urueña, Eizagirre, and Imaz, published in Madrid under the title *Anticipación e Innovación Responsable: La construcción de futuros alternativos para la ciencia y la tecnología*, brings together leading voices on forecasting and responsible innovation. Rooted in the Spanish concept of “anticipación,” the work adopts the term “forecasting” to emphasize a forward-looking, analytical approach that blends scientific prediction with ethical governance.
Forecasting, as defined in scientific discourse, extends beyond trend analysis or economic projections. Glenn’s observation that “studying the future is not simply economic projections or sociological analysis or technological forecasting, but a multi-disciplinary examination of change in all major areas of life” underscores the book’s foundation. Contributions from Armstrong, Farrukh, Holgado, Schnaars, and Marinakis have shaped this field, but the editors focus on integrating ethical principles into foresight methodologies.
Structured in three parts, the first section examines theoretical fundamentals. Pérez Laraudogoitia distinguishes between scientific modes of forecasting—rooted in prediction—and modes of scientific forecasting, which are meta-analyses of science itself. He frames science as an anticipatory system with coherent purposes. Rodríguez and Urueña analyze risk within the EU innovation system, noting that “our proposal of ‘forecasting risk’ could promote (radically) alternative modes of designing and complementing the milestones of socio-technic safety” beyond objectivist limitations. Arraiza Zabalegui emphasizes care as a prerequisite for livable futures: “if we do not care, if we don’t take care… there will be no desirable, neither livable, futures to forecast.” Grunwald focuses on early characterization of emerging technologies, highlighting how definitions—such as “nano” or “synthetic”—shape ethical debates and determine inclusivity or exclusivity in access.
The second part turns to responsible innovation. Von Schomberg identifies six deficits in global research and innovation, including overemphasis on risk and safety, market insufficiencies, misalignment with public values, and lack of foresight. He argues that “meaningful foresight, the normative design of technology and the impact assessment can drive us towards the ‘correct impacts’” if accompanied by openness in academia. Imaz, Eizagirre, and Ibarra explore deliberative governance, asserting that “open design of forecasting is a necessary but not sufficient condition” for RRI. Drawing on Reber’s work, they link democratic deliberation to ethical pluralism in managing uncertainty. González Esteban addresses reflexivity, citing Lynch’s call to “reveal forgotten choices, expose hidden alternatives, lay bare epistemological limits” and Wynne’s framing of reflexivity as exploration of prior commitments shaping knowledge.
The final section presents practical applications. Sanahuja, Fernández, and García integrate ethics and communication into RRI management, concluding that “a dialogical model of communication contributes to aligning processes and results with societal expectations and interests.” Tabarés Gutiérrez and Bierwirth examine social laboratories, referencing Horizon 2020 projects and warning that RRI debates risk being confined to certain EU member states, undermining inclusivity. García Fronti and Matías Herrera analyze Big Data governance in Buenos Aires, where a municipal initiative faced suspension due to privacy concerns and regulatory contradictions. Their work reveals that data are “not a question of facts, but a question of interests,” necessitating public debate.
This collection reflects a robust Spanish and Basque engagement with ethics in science and technology, extending the RRI conversation beyond its traditional Central European and U.S. centers. While the editors’ philosophical focus may limit interdisciplinary integration, the work demonstrates the necessity of bridging foresight with diverse scientific and social perspectives. For engineers, technologists, and innovators, the book’s emphasis on early-stage ethical framing, inclusive governance, and reflexive practice offers a framework for aligning technical advancement with societal well-being.