CSTEP’s research appointment is with a select set of technologies. Not technologies per se; goodness knows there are enough science and technology journals, conferences and workshops to promote their findings, but on the consequences of technologies to society through economic growth and human welfare. CSTEP will frequently release summaries of such studies. Such policy briefs are not research papers or even opinion pieces; but a succinct review of the state of the art and of options such technologies provide to society.

The object of the policy briefs is not to present one set of recommendations or another. Instead, they cite a number of options for the policy makers to consider. Some may even envisage drastic policy changes and prove difficult to implement.