Building up a Neural Network Sociotechnical Constituency: A Contribution to the Formulation of a UK Strategy

Abstract

In the area of technology policy, there is one question of crucial importance for countries or regions striving to establish a presence in specific technological fields. What is involved in the process of generation of technological capabilities which may eventually lead to market success for a variety of products and/or services ?

This paper explores some aspects of this problem with the specific purpose of contributing to the development of a UK strategy in the emerging field of neural computing. The paper was originally written for a DTI/SERC workshop on neural computing strategies not as an in depth study in the field but rather with the following aims: first, to illuminate the complexity of the issues involved in the generation of technological capabilities; second, to give a sense of the current general direction of neural computing development in the US, Japan and UK/Europe; third, to propose some general strategic guidelines with a view to strengthening both the policies and actual development of a neural computing capability in Britain. It is recommended that in approaching the build up of such a neural computing capability, the UK should balance open and targeted development; the share of resources between creation, production and difussion of the technology; individual and collaborative effort; British and European efforts; and UK/Europe and global perspectives.