The emergence and convergence of four key technologically enabled phenomena (Internet Collaboration,\nBig|Fast|Open Data, Additive Manufacturing, and Crypto-currency) prompted the Science and Technology Options\nAssessment panel of the European Parliament to let a contract to conduct research into the potential of these technologies\nand to identify any associated policy implications. The research study comprised of four phases: desk research, a\nworkshop, a mini-foresight exercise and interviews with industrialists and academics. The data collected were analysed\nand a number of positive and negative policy options were identified. The issues that arose in the study are summarised\nand include: personal data as commodity, disintermediation, education, prosumerism and entrepreneurial innovation,\npace of policy development, (and laws and regulations), borderlessness and internationalism, virtualisation of industrial\ninfrastructure and of currency. Given the radical changes that are expected to sweep the EU and global economies in\nthe next few years, we found there was particular interest in developing and deploying new forms of intellectual property\nmanagement protocols. It was recognised that this short study was only the start of a longer process. Future investigation\nneeds to delve deeper into the technical and social aspects of the relevant technologies and of the capability envelope\nthey occupy, as no one can anticipate the next technology disrupter and where it will act.
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