Taking knowledge production seriously in responsible research and innovation

Robert D.J. Smith*, Zara Thokozani Kamwendo, Anja Berndt, Jamie Parkin

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Responsible research and innovation (RRI) has been the preferred idiom for interrogating the social, ethical and political dimensions of science, technology and innovation for roughly a decade. The uptake of RRI into prominent policy organisations has resulted in a proliferation of policy frameworks as policy makers have attempted to articulate what it means for them to enact RRI. Here, we draw on our experience developing an RRI framework in the ERA Cofund on Biotechnology. We discuss three ways that treating RRI as a form of knowledge production has allowed us to engage with the institutional dimensions of science: as research within scientific projects; as administrative knowledge; and as methodological knowledge. We argue that Science and Technology Studies' concern with knowledge making offers a valuable route to approach RRI within research funding organisations, and reflect on how this approach might be developed in the next European Commission Framework Programme.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Responsible Innovation
Early online date28 Jun 2021
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 28 Jun 2021

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • funding policy
  • responsible innovation
  • bureaucracy
  • biotechnology
  • social learning

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Taking knowledge production seriously in responsible research and innovation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this