Abstract
Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) is an inclusive approach to the research and innovation process. Regional and local authorities are encouraged to take advantages of RRI in order to address the complexity of the interplay between science and society, especially as it affects territorial development policies. However, adopting the RRI approach is not an immediate or linear process. Consciously or not, many territories have already adopted policies and planning instruments that incorporate RRI, generating effects on the spatial scales. The aim of this study is to provide a methodology to map the inclusion of RRI dimensions (i.e., public engagement, open access, gender, ethics, science education) into regional development policies and spatial planning instruments, in order to detect integrated strategies and elements that are sustainable, open, inclusive, anticipative and responsive. The mapping methodology has been applied to three territorial pilot cases. The results provide the territories with a baseline to improve the integration of the RRI approach in their commitments to develop self-sustaining research and innovation ecosystems. Through the lessons learnt from the pilot cases, recommendations are drawn for the integration of RRI in spatial and urban planning policies and tools.
Highlights
The term ‘Responsible Research and Innovation’ (RRI) appeared for the first time in Europe around 2011 during the drafting of the Horizon 2020 Framework Program [1], as the evolution of the term ‘Responsible Research’ employed in 2002 in the 6th Framework Program [2] and used to foster ethical issues and the dialogue between various actors and activities in the research field [3]
The economy of Nordland is strongly globalized and it boasts a long tradition of cooperation with regions, knowledge institutions, and businesses, in other parts of Europe; the region includes 10 academic institutions, 29,541 industries and business companies and 7613 civil society organizations based within the area
Nordland Research Institute (NRI), Nordland County Council (NFK) and the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) are the territorial actors involved in the mapping of Nordland region, among the SeeRRI project partners
Summary
The term ‘Responsible Research and Innovation’ (RRI) appeared for the first time in Europe around 2011 during the drafting of the Horizon 2020 Framework Program [1], as the evolution of the term ‘Responsible Research’ employed in 2002 in the 6th Framework Program [2] and used to foster ethical issues and the dialogue between various actors and activities in the research field [3]. The European Commission’s Directorate General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) felt the need to adopt a new term to describe an innovative and inclusive approach to conduct research and innovation (R&I) that aligned R&I outcomes to the values, needs and expectations of European society [4]. This terminology quickly took hold, especially in the research community. RRI increasingly emerged as a possible way to pull Europe out of the crisis—a more effective solution to ensure smart, sustainable and inclusive growth [9], a chance to restore the public confidence in science and innovation [10] and a novel way for policy-makers to argue the case for responsible innovation [11]
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