Societal implications of bioinspired technologies: Introduction to the special issue

This Special Issue seeks to introduce a broad range of bioinspired technologies and provides an overview of the challenges regarding sustainability, ethical responsibility and societal acceptance. It adopts both a narrow and broad understanding of bioinspired technology. In a narrower sense, it refers to technologies that mimic natural forms, structures, or functional principles, typically developed within the field of biomimetics. More broadly, bioinspired technologies are defined as those designed with human or non-human nature in mind and adapted to meet the needs of both. The Special Issue addresses five key questions: First, it asks how the broad spectrum of bioinspired technologies can be categorized and classified. Second, it explores the extent to which bioinspired technologies contribute to a sustainable future and in particular to the development of sustainable technologies and what criteria can be used to ensure the sustainability of bioinspired technologies. Third, it presents methods for investigating and fostering societal acceptance of new bioinspired technologies. Fourth, central technical and societal areas are considered in which bioinspiration can contribute to a sustainable future. Lastly, it explores the ontological and ethical challenges associated with bioinspired technologies in so far as they undermine the previous distinction between ‘nature’ and ‘technology’.