scholarly journals Defining ‘Responsible’ in Responsible Research and Innovation: The Case of Quadruple Helix Innovation in the Energy Sector in the Tampere Region

Author(s):  
Yohannes Mehari ◽  
Elias Pekkola ◽  
Jonna Hjelt ◽  
Yuzhuo Cai ◽  
Jari Stenvall ◽  
...  

AbstractThis paper aims to investigate the social innovation process in the innovation ecosystem of the Tampere region, taking the energy sector as an example. It focuses on analysing how responsible research and innovation (RRI) activities are understood by regional stakeholders, particularly regarding how the roles of different actors (universities, public agencies, industry, and citizens) are constituted, and how different actors facilitate social innovation. The research questions are approached by the conceptual framework of Quadruple Helix which is useful for understanding the roles of citizens and interwoven fabric in innovation ecosystems, including social innovation. Empirically, the paper is based on analysing qualitative interviews with 12 stakeholders in the energy sector in Tampere. It is supplemented by analysing national and regional documents related to energy policies and the role of research and universities as well as citizens in sustainable (economic) development. Based on our findings the responsibility in research and innovation activities is not defined by utilising existing conceptual approaches or EU policies, such as RRI.

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
KALYPSO IORDANOU

Abstract:Health research is generally undertaken to resolve existing health problems or enhance existing solutions. Research ethics committees have been the main governance tool for research for more than half a century. Their role is to ensure that research is undertaken ethically. To close the increasing gap between science and society, other governance tools are required. The European Commission recommends and actively promotes the policy of responsible research and innovation (RRI). In addition to sound research ethics, a key feature of RRI is the involvement of different societal stakeholders throughout the research process.But how accepted is the involvement of societal stakeholders in the research of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the health care sector? This question is examined based on 18 in-depth interviews with private health care industry representatives from across Europe in companies focusing on developing medical device technology. Findings suggest that SMEs are reluctant to undertake research involving patients, especially in the early stages of the research and innovation process. For some SMEs this is due to concerns about the dangers of raising expectations they cannot meet, while for others the main concerns are increasing costs and producing less competitive products. Implications of the research findings are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 772-783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rune Dahl Fitjar ◽  
Paul Benneworth ◽  
Bjørn Terje Asheim

Abstract This article develops a model for a regional responsible research and innovation (RRI) policy, integrating existing European Union policies on RRI, and on research and innovation strategies for smart specialisation (RIS3). RRI and RIS3 are central concepts in the EU’s innovation policy agenda, but there are tensions between the two approaches. The place-based approach inherent in RIS3 is missing from RRI, which has a fuzzy concept of geographical scale and is vulnerable to mismatches between the scale of innovations and of the associated governance networks involved in the innovation process. Meanwhile, the multitude of visions, values and stakeholder perceptions embodied in the RRI concept is countered by the more optimistic and unitary imagining of a regional future in RIS3. We highlight that Europe’s innovation challenges can only be resolved by leveraging the strengths of both types of innovation policy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7460
Author(s):  
Enrico Cozzoni ◽  
Carmine Passavanti ◽  
Cristina Ponsiglione ◽  
Simonetta Primario ◽  
Pierluigi Rippa

The significant progress in scientific research and innovation has led to the need for a new paradigm to legitimise the innovation process in society and politics. The European Union, with the Horizon 2020 framework program and Horizon Europe, institutionalises this change by defining the concept of responsible research and innovation (RRI), aiming at greater inclusiveness and sustainability in the research and innovation processes. This paper aimed to present an agent-based model (ABM) to simulate the dynamics between the different actors that cooperate within networks during the innovation process, taking the inclinations toward RRI practices into account. The different types of agent, their characteristics, and the different strategies that they follow have been formulated within the Horizon 2020 project I AM RRI-Webs of Innovation Value Chains (IVCs) of Additive Manufacturing (AM) under consideration of RRI. Besides, some experiments are reported to validate the model, ensuring its rigor and making our model a useful tool for policymakers, assisting them in defining strategic guidelines for disseminating and encouraging RRI best practices and defining the critical factors of the innovative cooperative process.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (0) ◽  
pp. 342-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukasz Nazarko

The concept of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) has become a popular term as a result of making it a cross-cutting theme for the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union. RRI may be understood as a process by which societal actors and innovators become mutually responsive to each other with a view to the acceptability, sustainability and societal desirability of the innovation process and its products. The work presents a review of the state-of-art scientific literature on Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) together with a synthesis of theoretical and practical challenges faced by this new concept. Mapping of RRI dimensions and its theoretical assumptions is performed. Bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature on RRI is carried out. The analysis of RRI-related projects is conducted. The attempt is made to clarify what RRI means for an enterprise in practical terms and what makes an innovation project in an enterprise a responsible one. Finally, a proposal for a closer interchange between RRI and Technology Assessment discourses is made together with an argument for a more extensive use of future-oriented methods that increase epistemic horizons of an innovating organisation.


Author(s):  
Lukasz Nazarko

In the paper, the author takes stock of the conceptual reflection and empirical studies described in the current scientific literature on responsible innovation in the context of the emergence of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) concept. RRI has been promoted in the European Union as a part of the Europe 2020 strategy with the objective of making research and innovation more sustainable and inclusive. As more than half of the EU’s firms declare conducting innovation activities RRI problematic becomes more relevant than ever. There remain many open questions, unresolved dilemmas and empirical white spots that call for more research in this field. This paper’s main focus is the problem of RRI acceptance as a global framework for responsible innovation and the scarcity of suitable instruments that may help industry understand and adopt this concept. The main contribution of this paper are: the critical analysis of the RRI concept and its implications for industry, proposing a concept of RRI index for innovating enterprises.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alise Oļesika ◽  

The Guidelines for Science, Technology Development and Innovation for 2021–2027 developed by the Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia focus on promoting research excellence and increasing the social and economic value of research. Considering the previously mentioned, higher education institutions’ goal is not only the transfer of knowledge but also the creation of economic and social value, which communicates to society through learning and research results. Social innovation as a driver of social change promotes societal openness and active participation in socio-economic processes. The introduction of new forms of social innovation as Responsible Research and Innovations (RRI) can bridge the gap between science and societal needs by engaging in social debate and policy decisions in society and fostering collaboration between scientists from different sectors. The study aims to analyze Social Innovation’s essence and the academic and administrative definitions and dimensions of the Responsible Research and Innovation approach. In order to achieve the aim of the study, a systematic literature analysis was performed. The study reveals the main features of Social Innovation and the perspective of Responsible Research and Innovation implementation in higher education in the institutional and processual dimensions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 21-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukasz Nazarko ◽  
Borisas Melnikas

Abstract Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) is an emerging paradigm and a novel approach to governing science and innovation with the aim of making them ethically acceptable and socially desirable. RRI concept has become a popular term as a result of making it a cross-cutting theme for the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme. Up to date, research on the topic has focused on conceptual problems (relation with similar concepts as well as ethical, moral, philosophical, cultural underpinnings and assumptions) and on the possibilities of making the concept relevant to the Research & Innovation community in Europe and worldwide. Despite some initial efforts, there is still a need to further develop methods and techniques that could make RRI a useful framework for conducting innovation activities, especially in the business environment. The aim of this paper is to propose a range of approaches that help operationalise RRI. The approaches employ methods such as weighted indicators, maturity models and scorecards.


Author(s):  
Lukasz Nazarko

In the paper, the author takes stock of the conceptual reflection and empirical studies described in the current scientific literature on responsible innovation in the context of the emergence of the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) concept. RRI has been promoted in the European Union as a part of the Europe 2020 strategy with the objective of making research and innovation more sustainable and inclusive. As more than half of the EU’s firms declare they are conducting innovation activities, RRI problems are more relevant than ever. There remain many open questions, unresolved dilemmas and empirical white spots that call for more research in this field. This paper’s focus is the problem of RRI acceptance as a global framework for responsible innovation and the scarcity of suitable instruments that may help industries understand and adopt this concept. The main contributions of this paper include critical analysis of the RRI concept and its implications for industry, proposing a concept of an RRI index for innovating enterprises.


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