TA-SWISS was established to examine the opportunities and risks of new technologies. The Foundation provides a transparent account of all decisions it takes. As an independent, objective observer of technological developments and their potential impact, the Foundation is not influenced by special interest groups. This independence enables TA-SWISS to recognize at an early stage which technologies have the potential to fundamentally change society. The Foundation pays particularly close attention to controversial issues that have a bearing on a large percentage of the Swiss population.