"Now that I have found all the answers, they've gone and changed the questions." This quip, tacked to a door at the California Institute of Technology succintly captures the dilemma which science has faced over the last quarter of the century, in having to solve problems which are often the product of its own successes. First among these, is the problem posed by the relationship between discoveries and their application, technological innovations and employment, the delicate balance between growth and the environment, the increasing distance between the North and South of the planet, the new concepts of health and quality of life, the contradictions and the conflicts of a society that is becoming more and more global. If science, technology, and economy are at once the source of the problem and its possible solution, the leading experts of these fields are those who must be asked to reflect upon what lies ahead. It is along these lines that, in 1993, "Ten Nobels for the Future" - which is now at its ninth edition - was organized.

2000 The horizons of development Globalization, the increasing mobility of people and ideas and the potential of science and its applications hold out both promises and challenges for a constantly evolving society. Many responses to these needs could come from research, as shown for example by the new opportunities to enhance health and the quality of life offered by molecular biology. However, these very developments also raise questions and fears that could stifle progress in the field if an effort is not made to involve the public in real, open debate. It is therefore essential that we focus our gaze on the horizons of development in order to identify risks and opportunities. 1999 Innovation and the quality of life Although it is true that development cannot and must not be halted, it is not always easy to adapt to change or manage its consequences within a framework of global equity that ensures real progress shared by all. The history of the last one hundred years has shown us how many of the innovations that have radically altered our daily lives were the entirely unforeseen consequences of basic research that was not targeted at a specific application. Such research must therefore be encouraged and supported. At the same time it is necessary to ensure that all citizens are equipped with the tools that will enable them to cope with change and use innovation to improve the quality of life. 1998 The power of innovation The ability to innovate – and renew oneself – is at once a yardstick of competitiveness, a factor of success and a guarantee of survival, for countries, firms and individuals. Research underlies any innovative process, but the path that leads from the intuition to the discovery, and from this to applications, is never entirely predictable. In fact, innovation is only possible in a society that rewards creativity and risk-taking and ensures the uninhibited flow of information and ideas. And which understands the fact that innovation is power and as such should be shared by all the citizens of the world. 1997 Rational perceptions of the future The inherent uncertainty of the future seems to be magnified by the approach of the new millennium: a date on one of the Western calendars has been transformed into a catalyst of anxiety and fear. Although today we may possess powerful and reliable forecasting tools, apocalyptic visions are borne along by a flood of information in which we often find the prophecies of television gurus and the cautious judgements of researchers side by side. How can we contribute to forming a rational perception of the future that can help the public to distinguish between real dangers and unwarranted fears? 1996 From conflict to confrontation Celebrating the centennial of the death of Alfred Nobel, the seminar presents the theme - unfortunately very topical - of borderless conflicts. It articulates in three meetings: the first (June 6) addresses the relationship between energy and the environment; the second (October 3), is dedicated to the infrastructure as a source of development and employment; the third (December 5-7) will deal with the problems of justice, peace, health, and interchange between cultures. 1995 From information to culture Thanks to the new information and communication technologies, data and information are delivered at an incredible speed, thus allowing to reach an always increasing number of people all over the world. This generates new questions on the relationship between information and culture, between the simple dissemination of data and the creation of a conscious knowledge based on critical instruments. 1994 Science and society All the discoveries made by fundamental science are turned more and more rapidly into applications which modify both the social and productive organization, and the individual life style and attitude. How to develop a two-way path so that knowledge could circulate between science and society, and everybody could play a conscious part in the decision making about their own future? And how to grant an education and a training that will keep up with the rhythm of such constant change? 1993 Science, economics, ethics How to establish research priorities, keeping in mind, at once, the new social requests and the specific needs of the North and the South of the world? Which technologies could reconcile the consequences of development with the preservation of the environment? On the background, the ethical questions generated by progress of knowledge make us ponder on scientists' role and responsibilities in today's society.