Articles

Lukas Madl

Profit or common good?

In his presentation “Profit vs. Public Good in Technology Transfer?”, Lukas Madl examined the relationship between profit and social value in the fields of innovation and technology transfer. Drawing on his experience in genetics and more than 25 years of working in the commercialization of research results, he argued that while financial incentives for innovation are essential, they must be balanced with the common good to avoid harmful consequences — especially in sensitive areas such as AI in healthcare. He emphasized that technology transfer organizations (TTOs) should not only create economic value, but also actively pursue social value by addressing urgent human and environmental needs. Ultimately, Madl called for an ethically grounded innovation model that focuses on human dignity and holistic social development.

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Acting creationally: Christian responsibility in technological innovation

In his lecture, Lukas Madl emphasized that technical innovation is not contrary to Christian faith, but rather can be a calling to imitate God’s creative power. Using biblical images — from the command to cultivate the Garden of Eden to Noah’s Ark — he showed that technology has been entrusted to humans from the beginning as a tool for shaping and preserving creation. However, Madl warned against a disconnected, purely materialistic belief in progress, as seen in transhumanism, for example, and called for a restoration of balance between the “four lights” of knowledge — craftsmanship, scientific knowledge, philosophical reason, and divine revelation. Christians are called upon to be salt and light in science and technology by bringing ethical orientation, wisdom, and a holistic view of humanity to the landscape of innovation.

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