Abstract
Number of factors may be indicated that can negatively affect the willingness of third sector actors and citizens to get involved with research and innovation policy. It is worth referring to these factors as barriers to societal engagement. Six key barriers can be identified: lack of knowledge and skills, lack of relevance, lack of impact, lack of trust and critical views of others, lack of time and finances, and lack of legitimacy. The main purpose of this article is to present some policies and practice options that can help to overcome these barriers. The main focus will be on solving the lack of knowledge and skills of social actors. In this context, the fact that citizens and third sector actors may perceive an engagement process as not relevant to their own interests, concerns, and goals may be indicated as the main cause for their non-involvement. Citizens and third sector actors may refrain from engagement when they fear they lack the necessary knowledge and skills to engage in research or in research and innovation policy. They may also be reluctant to participate when they do not have the basic understanding of science and scientific working methods. The article will propose an overview of policies and activities that can effectively overcome the indicated barriers to engagement.
Highlights
The Responsible Research and Innovation tool was created to build effective cooperation between science and society in order to acquire new talents for research and innovation and to combine scientific excellence with social awareness and responsibility
Responsible research and innovation consists of the design and implementation of research and innovation policy which will broadly involve society in its research and innovation activities, increase access to scientific research results, ensure gender equality, both in the research process and the scope of research being carried out, consider the ethical dimension, promote formal and informal education in science education
This means that research and innovation projects come from a closed world of experts in "hard science", opening up to social sciences and humanities, as well as citizens and civil society organizations which can offer various perspectives and creativity as well as foster some more socially relevant outcomes. Another important dimension of the RRI is the development of open access, promotion of science education, care for gender equality and ethical standards [2]. It is worth considering the role of the Responsible Research and Innovation in promoting attitudes of social involvement, and in particular the role of education in development of attitudes which are open to cooperation and joint action in the field of science and innovation
Summary
The Responsible Research and Innovation tool was created to build effective cooperation between science and society in order to acquire new talents for research and innovation and to combine scientific excellence with social awareness and responsibility. The basic idea lying under the RRI is that given the significant impact that ICT innovation has on our world, the whole society should be involved in the process This means that research and innovation projects come from a closed world of experts in "hard science", opening up to social sciences and humanities, as well as citizens and civil society organizations which can offer various perspectives and creativity as well as foster some more socially relevant outcomes. Another important dimension of the RRI is the development of open access, promotion of science education, care for gender equality and ethical standards [2]. Particular emphasis in this respect will be placed on the social actors, who bear the burden of involvement in social innovation processes, and whose participation in projects aimed at creating and implementing modern solutions in the social area is often insufficient
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