Technological development has caused profound changes and social stability. Regions which have had stable populations for centuries have experienced enormous population growth leading to the emergence of sometimes unmanageable megaplex cities as well as bringing about macroscopic environmental change. The scope of this IFAC SWIIS Conference is to offer insights into mitigating unwanted side-effects of rapid development and to share methodologies for appropriate ways of managing the introduction of technologies which will alter social stability.

Contributions included in Improving Stability in Developing Nations through Automation 2006 cover a very broad field of interest for subjects such as social aspects of technology transfer, managing the introduction of technological change, ethical aspects, technology and environmental stability, and anticipating secondary and tertiary effects of technological development.