Science is the art of answering new questions, but more and more often is facing problems which are the product of its own success. First among these is the problem posed by the relationship between scientific research and economic growth, generated by the changing equilibrium among the developed countries and the growing gap between the North and South of the planet, by a new conception of health and the quality of life and by the questions that technological progress poses for the future of human race and the environment.

Scientific progress has always deeply modified social organisation and individual liife style and attitude, often indipendently from a public awareness of these transformations. Today, the relationship between science and economics is stronger than ever, and the pace of discoveries and their application is more and more rapid. Communicating to the public the potential and the limits of research is therefore indispensable to create a good relationship between science and society, between decision-makers and the citizen.

Ten Nobel Laureates are invited to turn their attention to the major issues that have emerged from the redefinition of our conceptions of humanity, nature and society in the wake of scientific progress. Their lectures are divided into five sessions.
Research of Today is the Technology of Tomorrow

Tuesday 7 December 1993


Fundamental research is the seed corn for future technologies. The importance of the seed corn has been known to all primitive agrarian societies: no matter how hard the winter was, one did not eat the seed corn even at the risk of starvation. To consume the seed corn implies to endanger the future.
Basic research with no other scope than understanding nature is the seed corn for future technologies. Are we eating our seed corn? and destroy the harvest for our children?
In this presentation, I will briefly outline the historical connection between science and technology in the West as well as in the Orient. I will then touch upon the following subjects:

    1.Why basic science and technological development are both necessary.
    2.Why more science is needed to cope with the problems of the future.
    3.The history between discoveries in basic research and their applications to technologies.
    4.Why the mentality needed for technological developments can best be acquired in basic research and I will also comment on short term spin-offs of basic science.
The resulting essay has been translated into Italian and published in the book Scienza, economia, etica per il prossimo secolo. Dieci Nobel per il futuro. (Marsilio, Venezia 1994).