scholarly journals Effective inter-organisational networks for Responsible Research and Innovation and global sustainability: a scoping review

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 144
Author(s):  
Danielle Martine Farrugia ◽  
Silvia Leonor Vilches ◽  
Alexander Gerber
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Responsible Research And Innovation ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Relationship Network ◽  
And Function ◽  
Responsible Research

Background: Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is beyond the capacity of any single organisation. The principles of engaging stakeholders suggest that an engaged, multi-sectoral approach, such as described in models of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), hold promise to mobilise humanity to solve complex and urgent global issues. Methods: This scoping review explores the characteristics of effective and sustainable inter-organisational networks for fostering RRI in service of the SDGs. The review focuses on strategies to initiate and maintain international communities of practice relevant to the implementation of RRI and/or SDGs. The search began with themes derived from prior network theory, focusing on: (a) the type and function of networks; (b) the aims and vision; and (c) the relationships between networks and network members. In total, 55 articles on inter-organisational network theory were included for the final analysis. Results:  Results are reported under themes of: (1) Effectiveness, Sustainability, and Success; (2) Governance and Management; and (3) Network Relationship. Network structures, forms of management and funding are linked to sustainable networks. Potential threats include power imbalances within networks, and internal and external factors that may affect relationships at network and community levels. Few studies examine diversity or cultural viewpoints. Studies highlight the benefits of networks such as enhancing knowledge sharing among researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders. Conclusions: The effectiveness of the managerial structure may be observed as outputs of the intention and values of an inter-organisational network. Our review demonstrates that a global inter-organisational network approach is achievable. Such a network would have many benefits, including allowing organisations to be responsive and flexible towards change and innovation.

scholarly journals Open schooling with inquiry maps in network education: supporting Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and fun in learning

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. e020053
Author(s):  
Alexandra Okada ◽  
Luziana Quadros da Rosa ◽  
Márcio Vieira de Souza
Keyword(s):  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Responsible Research And Innovation ◽  
Interactive Approach ◽  
Network Education ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Societal Needs ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Research Action ◽  
Responsible Research

This article discusses the open schooling approach which has been promoted by the European Commission for preparing learners in cooperation with partners to develop real-world issue projects and shape a desirable future together. This approach is designed to engage all participants with RRI - Responsible Research and Innovation (EC, 2015). The objective of RRI is to align research and innovation with societal needs and sustainable development goals (UNESCO, 2015) through the interaction of researchers with society. Open schooling for RRI is considered an interactive approach to help youth develop knowledge, skills, attitude and values for the 21st century. This study presents some contributions of using inquiry mapping (OKADA, 2006) as a participatory research-action method to engage multi-partners in an open network. This exploratory study supported by a set of examples from the literature provides recommendations for developing inquiry-maps for open schooling in network projects and facilitates fun in learning.

scholarly journals Structural and functional brain asymmetries in the early phases of life: a scoping review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrizia Bisiacchi ◽  
Elisa Cainelli
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Large Variability ◽  
Speech Stimuli ◽  
Morphological Asymmetry ◽  
Cerebral Asymmetries ◽  
The Right ◽  
And Function

AbstractAsymmetry characterizes the brain in both structure and function. Anatomical asymmetries explain only a fraction of functional variability in lateralization, with structural and functional asymmetries developing at different periods of life and in different ways. In this work, we perform a scoping review of the cerebral asymmetries in the first brain development phases. We included all English-written studies providing direct evidence of hemispheric asymmetries in full-term neonates, foetuses, and premature infants, both at term post-conception and before. The final analysis included 57 studies. The reviewed literature shows large variability in the used techniques and methodological procedures. Most structural studies investigated the temporal lobe, showing a temporal planum more pronounced on the left than on the right (although not all data agree), a morphological asymmetry already present from the 29th week of gestation. Other brain structures have been poorly investigated, and the results are even more discordant. Unlike data on structural asymmetries, functional data agree with each other, identifying a leftward dominance for speech stimuli and an overall dominance of the right hemisphere in all other functional conditions. This generalized dominance of the right hemisphere for all conditions (except linguistic stimuli) is in line with theories stating that the right hemisphere develops earlier and that its development is less subject to external influences because it sustains functions necessary to survive.

scholarly journals Contextualizing Security Innovation: Responsible Research and Innovation at the Smart Border?

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Klimburg-Witjes ◽  
Frederik C. Huettenrauch
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Border Security ◽  
Responsible Research And Innovation ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Security Technologies ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Societal Needs ◽  
Responsible Research

AbstractCurrent European innovation and security policies are increasingly channeled into efforts to address the assumed challenges that threaten European societies. A field in which this has become particularly salient is digitized EU border management. Here, the framework of responsible research and innovation (RRI) has recently been used to point to the alleged sensitivity of political actors towards the contingent dimensions of emerging security technologies. RRI, in general, is concerned with societal needs and the engagement and inclusion of various stakeholder groups in the research and innovation processes, aiming to anticipate undesired consequences of and identifying socially acceptable alternatives for emerging technologies. However, RRI has also been criticized as an industry-driven attempt to gain societal legitimacy for new technologies. In this article, we argue that while RRI evokes a space where different actors enter co-creative dialogues, it lays bare the specific challenges of governing security innovation in socially responsible ways. Empirically, we draw on the case study of BODEGA, the first EU funded research project to apply the RRI framework to the field of border security. We show how stakeholders involved in the project represent their work in relation to RRI and the resulting benefits and challenges they face. The paper argues that applying the framework to the field of (border) security lays bare its limitations, namely that RRI itself embodies a political agenda, conceals alternative experiences by those on whom security is enacted upon and that its key propositions of openness and transparency are hardly met in practice due to confidentiality agreements. Our hope is to contribute to work on RRI and emerging debates about how the concept can (or cannot) be contextualized for the field of security—a field that might be more in need than any other to consider the ethical dimension of its activities.

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