Helga Nowotny (born 5 July 1942) is an Austrian sociologist of science and technology, known for her work on the social dimensions of scientific research and innovation. She has held prominent academic and administrative positions in Europe, most notably as President of the European Research Council (ERC) from 2009 to 2014.
Early Life and Education
- Born in Vienna, Austria.
- Studied sociology, philosophy, and economics at the University of Vienna, earning a Ph.D. in sociology in 1971.
Academic Career
- Joined the Institute for Sociology at the University of Vienna as a research associate, later becoming a professor.
- In 1992, appointed Professor of Social Studies of Science at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich).
- Co‑founded the ETH Center for Technology and Society (CTS) in 1999, serving as its director.
- Established the Zurich Center for the Study of the Internet (ZSI) in 2009, focusing on the societal impact of digital technologies.
European Research Council
- Appointed the inaugural President of the ERC in 2009, overseeing its launch and the allocation of significant European research funding across all scientific disciplines.
- Served a full term until 2014, during which the ERC expanded its grant programmes (Starting, Consolidator, Advanced) and emphasized scientific excellence and frontier research.
Research Interests
- Social and ethical aspects of scientific knowledge production.
- Governance of research and innovation.
- Interaction between science, technology, and society (STS).
- Emerging technologies, especially digital media and the Internet.
Selected Publications
- The Social Construction of Scientific Knowledge (co‑edited, 1994).
- The New Production of Knowledge: The Dynamics of Science and Research in Contemporary Societies (1998).
- Internet and Society: A Critical Perspective (2010).
Honours and Awards
- Honorary Doctorate, University of Salzburg (2002).
- Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, First Class (2008).
- Member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
- Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts.
Professional Memberships and Roles
- Member of the Board of Trustees of the Swiss Science Council.
- Advisor to the European Commission on research policy.
- Involvement with various international scientific advisory panels and think‑tanks focused on innovation policy.
Current Activities
- Continues to teach and conduct research at ETH Zurich.
- Engages in public discourse on science policy, research ethics, and the societal implications of new technologies.
All information presented is drawn from established biographical and institutional sources.
