University responsible research and innovation and society: dialogue or monologue?

Abstract

ABSTRACT University social responsibility requires dialogue with society and university activity. In the case of responsible research and innovation, this can involve interacting with society, listening to its needs, promoting its development and strengthening its capacity for autonomous progress. But does this dialogue actually take place? The aim of this paper is to describe the current state of communication between researchers and the stakeholders in university research. The study is based on a content analysis of interviews with 107 research groups in five European countries. The results point to four dialogue models, from the absence of communication to the consensual and symmetrical dialogue, a clear minority in the study sample. The arguments researchers give lead us to conclude that the way they understand research prevails over social responsibility. Finally, we present some strategies which could be used to promote a change of perspective towards socially responsible research.