Broadening Discourse on Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)

Excerpt

In recent years, notions of “responsible innovation” – and, particularly in Europe, “responsible research and innovation” (RRI) – have become very widespread in academic and political discourse on science and technology. Overarching goals have been defined for RRI at the level of the European Union (EU), including a better alignment of science (policies) with societal needs and the consideration of ethical aspects, the stimulation or implementation of inclusive and deliberative processes (stakeholder involvement and public engagement), and the sharing of responsibility for innovation processes among a wide range of stakeholders by means of early engagement and mutual learning (for example, by means of what are known as “mobilisation and mutual learning action plans”, MMLAPs). The conceptual work on RRI is still ongoing and may be deemed a process innovation, for example as far as the following five aspects are concerned: societal engagement, gender equality and gender in research and innovation content, open access, science education and ethics. …