Democratizing Technology and Enhancing the Inclusivity of Technology Policies: Investigating 100 T-Forum Sessions in Taiwan

This article investigates the democratization of technology policymaking through an analysis of the 100 T-forums held in Taiwan between 2019 and 2021, marking the first systematic incorporation of lay citizens’ perspectives into technology governance. Prior to this initiative, large-scale deliberative communication in technology policy remained largely absent; this project offers critical insight into its potential and limitations. Initiated by the National Science and Technology Council, the T-forums engaged over 3,000 participants, enabled by a dual-layered infrastructure comprising a supportive societal context and a meticulously designed procedural framework. Although the project was ultimately constrained by entrenched field logics, it nevertheless catalyzed the refinement and expansion of participatory infrastructures, including the activation of civic organizations and the professionalization of public deliberation practices. This case illustrates a transitional pathway from conventional public consultation toward models of citizen science, emphasizing not merely the inclusion of citizen voices but their empowerment to contribute substantively to knowledge production and agenda-setting. The findings shed light on the structural conditions and procedural mechanisms necessary for embedding deliberative practices in technology governance.