"The Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) is one of the seven scientific institutes of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC). IPTS is located in Seville, Spain. Since 1994, IPTS promotes and enables a better understanding of the links between technology, economy and society. Its mission is to provide customer-driven support to the EU policy-making process by researching science-based responses to policy challenges that have both a socio-economic and a scientific or technological dimension. The work undertaken by IPTS is mainly done at the request of other Directorates General of the European Commission. In addition in recent years several assignments have been carried out for the European Parliament. IPTS collaborates closely with the other Institutes of the Directorate General Joint Research Centre and multiple partners across Europe."