CAST-FDU Institute of Technology Ethics for Human Future
Institute Overview
Since the beginning of the 21st century, transformative innovations in emerging technologies such as biomedical sciences, big data, and artificial intelligence have opened vast opportunities for human progress. At the same time, these developments pose new societal challenges, including regulatory conflicts, social risks, and ethical dilemmas.
President Xi Jinping has emphasized that “technology is a powerful tool for development, but it can also be a source of risk.” In March 2022, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued Opinions on Strengthening Ethical Governance in Science and Technology. This directive highlighted the importance of advancing research on key theoretical and frontier issues in science and technology ethics, and building an ethics governance system with Chinese characteristics as a critical step to ensure the healthy development of a shared future for humanity.
Against this backdrop, the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and Fudan University jointly established the CAST-Fudan Institute of Technology Ethics for Human Future. The institute was officially inaugurated on November 13, 2022.
Mission and Strategic Goals
The institute’s core mission is to harmonize technology with human values, integrate cultural wisdom for inclusive progress, guide sustainable development through ethics, and ultimately foster a future of inclusion, equity, and innovation.
To realize this mission, the institute pursues four strategic priorities:
1. Establish a High-Level Research Platform for Science and Technology Ethics
The institute focuses on cutting-edge technological and ethical issues, develops a state-of-the-art digital ethics laboratory, and publishes the journal Technoethics Inquiry.
2. Build a Multi-Level “Ethics+” Talent Development System
The institute cultivates interdisciplinary professionals by awarding master’s degrees in applied ethics, establishing specialized training bases, and creating a public-facing ethics education platform to raise awareness of science and technology ethics.
3. Develop an International Platform for Collaboration on Science and Technology Ethics
The institute promotes global collaboration through an international network for exchange, organizes a series of high-level conferences on emerging ethical issues, and strengthens China’s voice in worldwide discussions on technology ethics.
4. Serve National Strategic Consulting
Acting as an open and influential think tank, the institute provides expert guidance on science and technology ethics, contributing to policy development and supporting Shanghai’s digital transformation and growth of its digital economy.
Academic Research and Key Contributions
The institute currently comprises 8 full-time researchers, 5 postdoctoral fellows, 11 PhD students, and 2 master’s students. Its research spans four core domains: AI Ethics, Biomedical Ethics, Neurotechnology Ethics, and the Digitalization of Ethics. Supported by national and municipal funding agencies—including the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Natural Science Foundation of China—the institute explores topics from AI ethics in medical practice to the implications of brain-computer interfaces.
The institute’s research has yielded substantial academic output. At the 2023 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, it released the Handbook of Ethics in AI-Assisted Medical Imaging, which provides a systematic treatment of ethical issues ranging from fundamental concepts and technical foundations to application scenarios and operational practices, offering clear principles and practical strategies for diverse contexts. In July 2024, Professor Guoyu Wang, Director of the Institute, published an influential article in Nature Human Behaviour titled “Ethics committees promote responsible research in China,” examining the development of research ethics in China and highlighting the critical role of ethical review committees in fostering responsible innovation.
In the policy arena, the institute serves as an active governmental advisor. Its recommendations on AI ethics governance in China and the regulation of large language models have been published in Reference for Policy Decision（决策参考）, and its Ethical Guidelines for AI in Medical Research and Clinical Practice have been formally accepted by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The institute has also spearheaded the development of the world’s first ethical review AI agent, “Mirror” (一鉴), in collaboration with the Institute of Trustworthy Embodied Artificial Intelligence. Piloted at Fudan University and its affiliated Zhongshan Hospital, the system has earned strong endorsements from ethics experts as a reliable tool for supporting ethical review.
Talent Development and Academic Exchange
The institute plays an active role in talent cultivation, supporting the Professional Master Program in Applied Ethics at Fudan University’s School of Philosophy. This program trains interdisciplinary professionals in science and technology ethics, medical ethics, and big data ethics, preparing them for leadership roles in government, research institutions, and high-tech industries. To date, three cohorts of Applied Ethics master’s students have been successfully recruited. The institute also contributes to the field by leading the compilation of major national textbooks, including Medical Ethics and Introduction to Applied Ethics.
The institute further promotes high-level academic dialogue and global cooperation through a combination of domestic and international platforms. Domestically, it has organized events such as the Science and Technology Ethics Forum of the Pujiang Innovation Forum and the AI Twin Towers Forum. Internationally, it has convened the AI Ethics: A Cross-Cultural Dialogue Conference, which brought together scholars from the United States, Germany, Austria, Russia, and beyond. The institute has also co-organized two editions of the Sino-Swiss Dialogue with Swissnex in China, fostering cross-cultural and interdisciplinary exchange among early-career researchers. Distinguished international scholars, including Carl Mitcham, Alfred Nordmann, and Monika Betzler, have participated as visiting fellows, while other prominent academics, such as Mark Coeckelbergh, Christopher Coenen, and Joy Zhang, have delivered lectures to share frontier insights.
Social Impact and Partnerships
The institute’s expertise and activities have generated notable social impact, with extensive coverage from leading media outlets such as Wenhui Daily and The Paper. Its influence is further reflected in partnerships with both domestic and international institutions. In China, these include Fudan University’s School of Life Sciences, School of Computer Science, the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Huashan Hospital, the National Academy of Innovation Strategy, and the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Internationally, partners include Technical University of Darmstadt, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, the University of Amsterdam, Delft University of Technology, and the University of Zurich.
Looking ahead, the institute aspires to be a guiding force in ensuring that technology and ethics progress hand in hand. It seeks to shape regulations for emerging fields, offer trusted expertise for policy-making, and foster standards applicable across industries as well as within specific domains. By promoting decisions grounded in evidence and anticipating the ethical dimensions of tomorrow’s innovations, the institute strives to support a future where technological development remains both sustainable and responsible.
