Synthesizing an implementation framework for responsible research and innovation

Abstract

The concept of Responsible Research & Innovation (RRI) seems to gain initial momentum. The lack of collective meaning however, results in a plethora of publications, which describe RRI from ad hoc perspectives. To provide a robust foundation for scholars and practitioners seeking to implement RRI, we aim to integrate those perspectives through a literature review. We develop a practical framework for RRI, synthesized from earlier frameworks and ideas, that can be operationalized in research and innovation practice to help make RRI more tangible for scientists and engineers. We analyze policy papers, EU project proposals, and academic articles on RRI that appeared between 2011 and 2016 to identify common qualifiers of RRI. The resulting framework integrates a set of qualifiers that are central to the concept of ‘responsive’ research and innovation. The framework also allows identification of ‘RRI shortcuts’ to be avoided. We invite scholars to investigate the applicability of this framework as a means of shifting RRI from concept to practice.