Examining policy and social implications of technological development is a key area of IFTECH's research. Our researchers identify emerging issues, and carry out empirical studies on social and human welfare, current urban and regional challenges, and education and employment-related issues stemming from technological development. Current and past research can be broadly organized into the following four categories:
I. Technology and Socio-Demographic Change
● Issues related to an aging population, as well as the application of new
"socially oriented" technologies
● Surveys illuminating changing demographic structure and the state of technical
education
● Impact of new technologies on lifestyle, consumption, and other human behaviors
II. Environmental Crisis Management
● Earthquake, tsunami, and other natural disaster contingency planning
● Establishment, utilization and application of new technologies for crisis management
● Development of effective disaster-management tools and educational programs
● Pollution, contamination, and other environmental issues
III. Urban Infrastructure Development and Management
● Advanced technologies for mass-transit traffic management
● Technologies for urban waste management
● Information network and social welfare for regional societies (i.e. areas
located outside of major urban centers)
● Telecommunication infrastructure for newly developed nations and regional areas
IV. Information and Security Issues
● Proprietary information security issues
● Information security management at the interface between corporations and
government
● Electronic commerce and security
● Patent utilization for commercial R&D
● Public policies for intellectual property protection
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