Seven new technologies to impact science in 2022 and the launch of Biotech Review of the Year...

Fellow nerds and geeks pay heed! Nature has put out this handy review of seven gleaming new technologies that are likely to impact science this year. Reading through the list, I can’t help but notice how each of these developments impinges on work that Bristows already specialises in.

Every time a technology emerges, we ask ourselves what the impacts may be in the realm of law. 

• Will the new thing “fit” existing regulatory frameworks, or are those regulations showing their age? 
• What licensing models are likely to work? 
• What happens from a regulatory angle when technologies converge? 
• How can data be shared or withheld? 
• What ethical and human rights may be invoked? 
• How best to undertake collaborations with post-Brexit Britain? 

These are the questions that chase through the brains of Bristows all the time. I should state unequivocally that we do chat about other stuff over our coffee, but yes, team meetings are full of geeky details about new technologies such as these, chin-rubbing, cries of “but what if?” and “that’s a good point!”, and yes, sometimes even head shaking when the law is glitchy. Especially exciting for me is the coming together of our two core sectors, life sciences and technology: in fact, when you look through the Nature article, you find that this fusion lies at the heart of most of the developments listed.

If you’ve enjoyed the Nature piece and would like to know more about how lawyers do science and technology, you can read about our emerging puzzles and challenges in Bristows' annual Biotech Review, launching tomorrow. Keep your eyes peeled on our social media pages! For previous editions, visit the Biotech Review of the Year publication page.