Studying social aspects of sustainable technology

The research involves looking at the social impact of technology-driven changes in society, for example Internet of Things (IoT) solutions in health and social care. Photo: Getty Images
When we introduce smart technology solutions, for example in the energy sector or healthcare, there is a great risk of conflicting objectives. This is one of the themes now being developed at UUniCORN, the first of Uppsala University’s new ‘future institutes’.

Klas Palm, researcher at the Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering at Uppsala University. Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt
UUniCORN (Uppsala University Conflicting Objectives Research Nexus) is the first manifestation of the research initiative Uppsala University Future Institutes – UUniFI. The institute will be officially opened in March but activities are already underway.
Funding has recently been channelled by the institute to stimulate the development of interdisciplinary collaborations focusing on conflicting objectives of one kind or another. One of these involves looking at the social impact of technology-driven changes in society.
“We’re going to develop research on the conflicts that can arise between different objectives when we try to introduce smart technology solutions in various sectors,” says Klas Palm, researcher at the Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering at Uppsala University.
Reconfiguring energy systems
One example is the attempt to switch to an energy system that is less dependent on fossil energy sources. In this process, it is often the people in rural areas who pay the highest price.
Conflicts can arise where we make environmental gains but lose out on social sustainability, as renewable energy technologies can be spread differently between different socio-economic groups. This in turn can lead to a sense of exclusion, segregation and, in the long term, even serious conflict. These processes are being studied by researchers in the Sustainable or Segregated project.
IoT in health and social care
Another example is Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, which are being studied in the IoT Implementation project. Such solutions are an important resource when health and social care increasingly need to be provided close to the individual and at home and to better contribute to social sustainability. However, we need to know much more about the risks of negative impacts on social sustainability, such as the possibility of companies collecting and selling huge amounts of data about us as individuals.
“Our project aims to identify risks and opportunities in the implementation of IoT solutions. This will create conditions for better utilisation of IoT-based technologies,” says Morteza Ghobakhloo, researcher at the Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering.
The researchers intend to use the grant from UUniCORN to study conflicting objectives of this type in current projects to implement IoT solutions. They will also systematise what they learn and help to minimise conflicting objectives in technological development at regional authorities in Sweden.
Three different perspectives
What the researchers in these projects have in common, then, is that they are looking at the social impact of technology with a focus on sustainability. They are studying their research questions from three different perspectives.
- Visions of the future. Much of society’s development is driven by dreams of technology, such as when we went from travelling by horse and cart to driving a car. In this context, it is important to take into account conflicting objectives in societal changes linked to technology-driven sustainability development.
- Implementation of new technology. For example, the introduction of IoT solutions in health and social care, where it is important to be aware of conflicting objectives related to privacy, equality and material use.
- Phasing out. When technologies are decommissioned, there are often major societal consequences. What problems arise, for example, when we phase out coal, oil and diesel?
Researchers from different fields
The research programme is interdisciplinary, as research from many different disciplines is needed to gain deeper knowledge.
“We will work on the sustainability aspects of existing projects, but also start new projects for which we will apply for research funding,” says Klas Palm.
“The entire initiative is interdisciplinary and we want to involve researchers from all disciplinary domains. Everything from research in philosophy to research on new chemically based solar cell technology containing lead. What if it leaks out in impoverished areas?”
Annica Hulth
UUniCORN
- UUniCORN – Uppsala University Conflicting Objectives Research Nexus – aims to promote trans- and interdisciplinary research relating to goal conflicts in sustainable development.
- It is part of Uppsala University Future Institutes (UUniFI).
- On March 4, 2025, UUniCORN will be officially inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Anders Hagfeldt.