Responsible Innovation Practices Research Articles

Adaptation and Validation of Responsible Innovation Practices Scale for Innovativeness and Competitiveness of Pharmaceutical Companies in Pakistan

The primary goal of this study was to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the adapted 5-Dimensional Responsible Innovation Practices Scale (5DRIPS) with identical measures and related outcomes, such as organizational innovativeness and competitiveness. This scale is designed to measure the responsible innovation practices of organizations aiming to achieve greater societal good in close consultation with the stakeholders. A group of academicians and industry experts established the face and content validity of the 5DRIPS. In a two-wave field survey, data were obtained from a randomized sample of 297 pharmaceutical managers approached conveniently. Results supported that 5DRIPS has excellent internal consistency, factor structure, and convergent, criterion, and discriminant validities. The scale significantly predicted organizational outcomes in terms of innovativeness and competitiveness. The mediation mechanism exhibited that all five dimensions of 5DRIPS significantly improved organizational innovativeness, which in turn enhanced organizational competitiveness. Implications of these findings are discussed. We suggest using 5DRIPS as a reliable and valid measure of responsible innovation practices in pharmaceutical organizations. It can also be applied in other small, medium, and large-scale manufacturing organizations.

Adaptation and Validation of Responsible Innovation Practices Scale for Innovativeness and Competitiveness of Pharmaceutical Companies in Pakistan

The primary goal of this study was to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the adapted 5-Dimensional Responsible Innovation Practices Scale (5DRIPS) with identical measures and related outcomes, such as organizational innovativeness and competitiveness. This scale is designed to measure the responsible innovation practices of organizations aiming to achieve greater societal good in close consultation with the stakeholders. A group of academicians and industry experts established the face and content validity of the 5DRIPS. In a two-wave field survey, data were obtained from a randomized sample of 297 pharmaceutical managers approached conveniently. Results supported that 5DRIPS has excellent internal consistency, factor structure, and convergent, criterion, and discriminant validities. The scale significantly predicted organizational outcomes in terms of innovativeness and competitiveness. The mediation mechanism exhibited that all five dimensions of 5DRIPS significantly improved organizational innovativeness, which in turn enhanced organizational competitiveness. Implications of these findings are discussed. We suggest using 5DRIPS as a reliable and valid measure of responsible innovation practices in pharmaceutical organizations. It can also be applied in other small, medium, and large-scale manufacturing organizations.

Intrinsic responsible innovation in a synthetic biology research project

This paper presents, from the perspectives of both social scientists and microbiologists, a case study of the implementation and practice of Responsible Innovation (RI) in a UK-based synthetic biology project. We highlight the impact of interdisciplinary working and examine the benefits that arise from creating the time and space for shared reflection on research. Our discussions over the course of the project included concerns about the potential escape to the environment of laboratory-constructed genetic material and alternatives to the role that antibiotic resistance genes play in synthetic biology. As a result, the design of a key product of the project was altered in ways that go beyond normal institutional requirements. We highlight our view of the importance of continued interdisciplinary collaboration and the utility of the framework of Responsible Innovation in achieving this. We conclude with observations on the difficulties of sustaining such collaborations.

Responsible impact and the reinforcement of responsible innovation in the public sector ecosystem: cases of digital health innovation

ABSTRACT Responsible innovation is an important consideration for digital health innovation. This study explores the responsible innovation processes of digital health innovators, and the reinforcement of responsible innovation practices. Using semi-structured qualitative interviews followed by a thematic analysis and narrative enquiry, we understand the lived experiences of innovators in the UK and Norway. We suggest three contributions. (1) That Responsible Innovation occurs as a process in practice, and we suggest a framework to outline that process. (2) We suggest that ‘responsible impact’ is the fifth domain and the output of RI. (3) We suggest that responsible impact may be a natural reinforcer of the RI process. We suggest that innovators who recognise the impact of their RI practice are more likely to continue those responsible processes. Finally, based on our study we provide an RI action plan framework to encourage the funding of responsible innovators.

Responsible innovation of nano-agrifoods: Insights and views from U.S. stakeholders

To date, there has been little published work that has elicited diverse stakeholder views of nano-agrifoods and of how nano-agrifoods align with the goals of responsible innovation. This paper aims to fill this research gap by investigating views of nano-agrifoods, how well their development adheres to principles of responsible innovation, and potential challenges for achieving responsible nano-agrifood innovation. Using an online engagement platform, we find that U.S. stakeholder views of responsible innovation were dominated by environmental, health, and safety (EHS) contexts, considerations of societal impacts, opportunities for stakeholder engagement, and responding to societal needs. These views overlap with scholarly definitions of responsible innovation, albeit stakeholders were more focused on impacts of products, while the field of responsible innovation strives for more “upstream” considerations of the process of innovation. We also find that views of nano-agrifoods differed across applications with dietary supplements and improved whitening of infant formula viewed least favorably, and environmental health or food safety applications viewed most favorably. These findings align with the larger body of literature, whereby stakeholders are expected to be more supportive of nanotechnology used in agricultural applications compared to directly within food and food supplements. Overall, participants indicated they held relatively neutral views on research and innovation for nano-agrifoods being conducted responsibly, and they identified key challenges to ensuring their responsible innovation that were related to uncertainties in EHS studies, the need for public understanding and acceptance, and adequate regulation. In light of these results, we recommend future research efforts on EHS impacts and risk-benefit frameworks for nano-agrifoods, better understanding stakeholder views on what constitutes effective regulation, and addressing challenges with effective regulation and responsible innovation practices.

Bristol's smart city agenda: vision, strategy, challenges and implementation

This case study explores Bristol's goal to create a smart city, anchored by a 30-year city vision and the vital role digital connectivity and smart city technologies play. It describes Bristol's 2050 One City Plan, where city partners are collaboratively shaping the city through place-based leadership, community involvement and co-production, and Bristol City Council's complementary smart city strategy – Connecting Bristol. This digital agenda supports by developing the ‘foundations’ required to become a data-enabled city with world-class connectivity and inclusive public services; elements which enable many One City goals. It examines the importance of a challenge-led, people-focused approach with responsible innovation practices that ensure digital initiatives align with the One City Plan's equitable goals and values. Implementation strategies, including an ‘innovation ambition’ matrix used to manage a portfolio of smart city initiatives, and challenges are described along with the need for inclusive infrastructure and ethical data practices. The emerging role for local government in shaping a trusted smart city is explored. This study ends by discussing Covid-19 and economic recovery, in response to which the Council seeks to become a more agile, streamlined organisation, and concludes by highlighting the need to keep people at the heart of ‘smart’ city development.

Responsible innovation in the financial sector: an Islamic perspective

ABSTRACTIn today’s dynamic economic environment, innovation is commonly perceived as one of the critical mechanisms for businesses in attaining sustained competitive advantage. Moving alongside other sectors, banks and financial institutions also produce innovative products and services. However, the recent major financial crisis has been attributed to irresponsible innovation in the financial sector. Consequently, there is a need to emphasize responsible innovation practices that not only focus on monetary outcomes but also on the welfare and safety of society. This perspective briefly explores responsible innovation practices in the financial sector from an Islamic perspective.

Sexbots

This article describes how sexbots: sentient, self-aware, feeling artificial moral agents created soon as customised potential sexual/intimate partners provoke crucial questions for technoethics. Coeckelbergh's model of human/robotic relations as co-evolving to their mutual benefit through mutual vulnerability is applied to sexbots. As sexbots have a sustainable claim to moral standing, benefits and vulnerabilities inherent in human/sexbots relations must be identified and addressed for both parties. Humans' and sexbots' vulnerabilities are explored, drawing on the philosophy and social science of dehumanisation and inclusion/exclusion. This article argues humans as creators owe a duty of care to sentient beings they create. Responsible innovation practices involving stakeholders debating ethicolegal conundrums pertaining to human duties to sexbots, and sexbots' putative interests, rights and responsibilities are essential. These validate the legal recognition of sexbots, the protection of their interests through regulatory oversight and ethical limitations on customisation which must be put in place.

Socio-technical integration research in an Eastern European setting: Distinct features, challenges and opportunities

While technological innovation is a core element of efforts to increase public welfare, innovators are rarely trained to take the societal dimensions of innovation into account in a systematic manner. Responsible innovation has emerged within policy discourses worldwide to address this challenge. Implementing responsible innovation in daily practices, however, requires addressing both the multidisciplinary and the culturally situated nature of innovation processes. Effectiveness of Socio-Technical Integration Research (STIR) has been tested, but primarily only in developed countries, raising questions about how well it works in innovation and cultural settings differing from Western cultures. Therefore, this study analyzes the possibities of institutionalizing responsible innovation in an Eastern European country, namely in Hungary. For this investigation, we conducted STIR-pilots in two Hungarian natural science research groups. The findings show that though the original STIR method can be adapted to support responsible innovation practices in Hungary, the differences in the innovation environment and culture (such as grant-driven innovation; lack of trust; less knowledge on responsible innovation; lack of law on the societical impacts of research and innovaton) require methodological modifications in order to improve STIR’s effectiveness.

Lessons for Responsible Innovation in the Business Context: A Systematic Literature Review of Responsible, Social and Sustainable Innovation Practices

This paper aims to contribute to the ongoing conceptual debate on responsible innovation, and provides innovation practices and processes that can help to implement responsible innovation in the business context. Based on a systematic literature review of 72 empirical scholarly articles, it was possible to identify, analyse and synthesise empirical findings reported in studies on social, sustainable and responsible innovation practices in the business context. The synthesis of the included articles resulted in a refined framework for responsible innovation in the business context. This framework includes an overview of innovation practices and processes that can enhance the dimensions of responsible innovation: anticipation, reflexivity, inclusion, deliberation, responsiveness and knowledge management. Additionally, knowledge gaps are identified and a research agenda for responsible innovation is proposed. This review can therefore serve as a next step in the theoretical and practical development of responsible innovation in general, and in the business context in particular.

Embracing variety: introducing the inclusive modelling of (Parliamentary) technology assessment

This article introduces an inclusive way of modelling (Parliamentary) Technology Assessment, (P)TA as developed in the European PACITA project. It incorporates interdependencies between and diversity among existing and potential (P)TA practices in a more inclusive and fine-grained way than existing literature does. We model (P)TA as a mediating function between the spheres of parliament, government, science and technology, and society. We suggest that this mediation takes place through a set of interaction mechanisms that include institutional, organizational and project dimensions. In this way, we distinguish among 15 potential interaction models for (P)TA. Our more inclusive way of modelling may be used to map and discuss fruitful evolutionary pathways for (P)TA in countries and regions where (P)TA already exists or where the ambassadorship for (P)TA is about to take off. In the conclusion, we reflect on the relevance of our modelling for the discourse on and practice of responsible innovation.

Bernard Lerer: Recipient of the 2014 Inaugural Werner Kalow Responsible Innovation Prize in Global Omics and Personalized Medicine (Pacific Rim Association for Clinical Pharmacogenetics)

This article announces the recipient of the 2014 inaugural Werner Kalow Responsible Innovation Prize in Global Omics and Personalized Medicine by the Pacific Rim Association for Clinical Pharmacogenetics (PRACP): Bernard Lerer, professor of psychiatry and director of the Biological Psychiatry Laboratory, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. The Werner Kalow Responsible Innovation Prize is given to an exceptional interdisciplinary scholar who has made highly innovative and enduring contributions to global omics science and personalized medicine, with both vertical and horizontal (transdisciplinary) impacts. The prize is established in memory of a beloved colleague, mentor, and friend, the late Professor Werner Kalow, who cultivated the idea and practice of pharmacogenetics in modern therapeutics commencing in the 1950s. PRACP, the prize's sponsor, is one of the longest standing learned societies in the Asia-Pacific region, and was founded by Kalow and colleagues more than two decades ago in the then-emerging field of pharmacogenetics. In announcing this inaugural prize and its winner, we seek to highlight the works of prize winner, Professor Lerer. Additionally, we contextualize the significance of the prize by recalling the life and works of Professor Kalow and providing a brief socio-technical history of the rise of pharmacogenetics and personalized medicine as a veritable form of 21(st) century scientific practice. The article also fills a void in previous social science analyses of pharmacogenetics, by bringing to the fore the works of Kalow from 1995 to 2008, when he presciently noted the rise of yet another field of postgenomics inquiry--pharmacoepigenetics--that railed against genetic determinism and underscored the temporal and spatial plasticity of genetic components of drug response, with invention of the repeated drug administration (RDA) method that estimates the dynamic heritabilities of drug response. The prize goes a long way to cultivate transgenerational capacity and broader cognizance of the concept and practice of responsible innovation as an important criterion of 21(st) century omics science and personalized medicine. A new call is presently in place for the 2016 PRACP Werner Kalow prize. Nominations can be made in support of an exceptional individual interdisciplinary scholar, or alternatively, an entire research team, from any region in the world with a record of highly innovative contributions to global omics science and/or personalized medicine, in the spirit of responsible innovation. The application process is straightforward, requiring a signed, 1500-word nomination letter (by the applicant or sponsor) submitted not later than May 31, 2015.