In Japan, the Delphi method is applied since 1971 to foresee possible
technological developments. The same approach was used in Germany in
1992 for the first time. The German expert survey about the development
of future technology was based on the Japanese survey conducted in 1991
and discussed the same topics.
In this book, the results of both studies are compared and analysed.
From the comparison, conclusions can be drawn on the relevance of
certain technology fields or disciplines not only for public technology
policy but also for companies. Possible times of realization,
constraints on the realization, the current R&D level of nations or the
necessity of international co-operation give hints about tomorrow's
technology and its economic and societal impacts.