How can science shops help make the research agenda more responsive to the needs and demands of civil society?
Scientific knowledge has created enormous gains for society and is seen as the key to economic development and international competitiveness. Yet industrial and commercial development has also given rise to massive social and environmental problems. The resolution of problems, such as environmental threats, or the evaluation of the impact of new technologies such as information technology and biotechnology requires further scientific knowledge and political and economic decisions. The scientific knowledge needed in problem solving is not neutral, but contested and negotiated within political frameworks. Further, economic and organisational resources for research and development are unequally distributed at the national and international level. Businesses and governmental authorities and institutions have more resources and easier access to and influence on research facilities than NGOs and citizen groups such as consumer organisations, environmental organisations, trade unions, social
