Abstract
The growth in biofuels’ investment brings with it concerns about the social and environmental impacts of the sector. Several tools and frameworks have been used to address these concerns, including the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) framework. This paper analyzes whether this framework can be applied in contexts where local culture and values shape differently the freedom of speech and engagement, such as in developing countries in which biofuel innovation projects are often implemented. A literature review focused on eight case studies of other authors was used to explore the role of “participation” as a structural element of the RRI framework and the impact of its absence where effective participation in the innovation development process is not possible. In conclusion, we highlight how this inspirational normative framework, designed to influence innovation, is misused to judge its impacts. More than that, the conclusions of such misused applications reflect more the difficulties involved in applying guidelines than the responsible character of the innovation, whose impacts are usually defined upfront materially and measurably.
Highlights
There is a growing demand for alternative, renewable energies
The Research and Innovation (RRI) framework was first employed in Europe after the economic crisis of 2008 and introduced the consideration of values and concerns related to innovation
As an inspirational normative framework aimed to influence researchers and innovators through its four pillars, the framework played a relevant role in the development of research and innovation in Europe since it was adopted by important research institutions in The Netherland and UK and is a transversal guiding principle of the “Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program” from the European Union [1,2,3,4,5,6]
Summary
There is a growing demand for alternative, renewable energies. One of them is biofuels, which are well-suited to the transport sector due to their liquid form and the diversity of raw materials and potential local production sources. Along with the growth in this sector’s investments, concerns have emerged regarding social and environmental impacts, such as land-use changes, food security, and biodiversity loss. Different frameworks and assessment tools have emerged to analyze these social and environmental impacts, among them, the Responsible Research and Innovation Framework (RRI). The RRI framework was first employed in Europe after the economic crisis of 2008 and introduced the consideration of values and concerns related to innovation. As an inspirational normative framework aimed to influence researchers and innovators through its four pillars, the framework played a relevant role in the development of research and innovation in Europe since it was adopted by important research institutions in The Netherland and UK and is a transversal guiding principle of the “Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program” from the European Union [1,2,3,4,5,6]
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