“Responsible Research and Innovation is a transparent, interactive process by which societal actors and innovators become mutually responsive to each other with a view on the (ethical) acceptability, sustainability and societal desirability of the innovation process and its marketable products (in order to allow a proper embedding of scientific and technological advances in our society).” - von Schomberg 2011
Or to put it more simply, Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) is about making sure that the positive outputs, impacts, and processes of research and innovation outweigh any potential harms, and do not contribute to perpetuating inequalities.
RRI involves developing an ethical mindset and working practice that goes beyond standard research ethics and integrity, which tend to focus on more the immediate impacts and processes of the work.
It is about anticipating the potential impacts of work beyond the intended outcomes - on society, on the environment, on the economy
This involves reflecting on the work and thinking about how your own motivations compare with other stakeholders, and who will benefit from your work
But anticipation and reflection work best when you are exposed to a diverse set of ideas, so engaging with stakeholders (which often include the general public) is usually a necessary part of this
And most importantly, acting on those insights to ensure the work maximises value and minimises harm
I can:
Help your organisation audit existing policies, procedures, and practices to identify RRI strengths and opportunities
Guide a team through UKRI's AREA Framework, which is a tool to embed responsible research and innovation practice
Guide leadership teams in reflecting on the motivation and need to practice RRI, to best align with the organisation's focus and values
Coming soon!
Responsible Research and Innovation training
RRI canvas tool
Stakeholder mapping canvas tool