From technology assessment to responsible research and innovation (RRI)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Pearson ◽  
Robert Gianni ◽  
Veikko Ikonen ◽  
Hossam Haick
Keyword(s):  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Responsible Research And Innovation ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Responsible Research

scholarly journals Societal impact of synthetic biology: responsible research and innovation (RRI)

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Gregorowius ◽  
Anna Deplazes-Zemp
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Responsible Research And Innovation ◽  
Societal Impact ◽  
Biotechnological Applications ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Responsible Research

Synthetic biology is an emerging field at the interface between biology and engineering, which has generated many expectations for beneficial biomedical and biotechnological applications. At the same time, however, it has also raised concerns about risks or the aim of producing new forms of living organisms. Researchers from different disciplines as well as policymakers and the general public have expressed the need for a form of technology assessment that not only deals with technical aspects, but also includes societal and ethical issues. A recent and very influential model of technology assessment that tries to implement these aims is known as RRI (Responsible Research and Innovation). In this paper, we introduce this model and its historical precursor strategies. Based on the societal and ethical issues which are presented in the current literature, we discuss challenges and opportunities of applying the RRI model for the assessment of synthetic biology.

scholarly journals The Value of Citizen Participation in Technology Assessment, Responsible Research and Innovation, and Sustainable Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 11613
Author(s):  
Nora Weinberger ◽  
Silvia Woll ◽  
Christopher Conrad Maximillian Kyba ◽  
Nona Schulte-Römer
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Responsible Research And Innovation ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Tactile Navigation ◽  
Citizen Science Project ◽  
Responsible Research

The participation of citizens in scientific research has a long tradition, and in some disciplines, especially medical research, it is even common practice. In Technology Assessment (TA), Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), and Sustainable Development (SD), the participation of citizens can be of considerable value. In this paper, we explore this value for three concepts, based on the researcher’s insights from three participatory research projects. The first project is the citizen science project TeQfor1, which was conducted with, for, and on the type 1 diabetes community, who do not feel adequately supported by the conventional health care system. In the second project, citizens with vision impairments participated in the technological development of an audio-tactile navigation tool in the TERRAIN project. The third project (Nachtlichter) dealt with light pollution. Based on the three projects presented, we show that citizen participation makes specific contributions to TA, RRI, and SD. We also investigate the specificity of citizen engagement and motivation by differentiating between existing and emerging involvement. In conclusion, we discuss the benefits that may be added by participatory approaches for the three concepts of TA, RRI, and SD.

scholarly journals Research and Scientific Advice in the Second Modernity: Technology Assessment, Responsible Research and Innovation, and Sustainability Research

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 10406
Author(s):  
Armin Grunwald
Keyword(s):  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Responsible Research And Innovation ◽  
Reflexive Modernization ◽  
Limits To Growth ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Sustainability Research ◽  
Second Modernity ◽  
Crisis Of Modernity ◽  
Paper Technology ◽  
Responsible Research

The scientific and technological advance has been a major driving force of modernization for centuries. However, the 20th century was full of indications and diagnoses of a deep crisis of modernity. Currently, debates on limits to growth, pollution, and climate change indicate the serious and threatening lack of sustainability of the so-called ‘first modernity’. This crisis of modernity has motivated scholars to develop concepts of modernizing modernity, with the approach of a ‘reflexive modernization’ to reach a ‘second modernity’ being prominent. In this paper, Technology Assessment (TA), Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), and Sustainability Research (SR) are regarded as manifestations of this reflexive modernization in the field of problem-oriented and transformative research. The paper aims to (a) unfold the hypothesis regarding TA, RRI, and SR as scientific approaches within reflexive modernization, (b) clarify the respective meaning of ‘reflexive’ in these approaches, (c) identify commonalities as well as differences between the three approaches, and (d) draw conclusions for the relation and further development of TA, RRI, and SR.

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