The Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) Maturity Model: Linking Theory and Practice

Bernd Carsten Stahl, Michael Obach, Emad Yaghmaei, Veikko Ikonen, Kate Chatfield and Alexander Brem
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Bernd Carsten Stahl: Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility, School of Computer Science and Informatics, De Montfort University, The Gateway, LE1 9BH Leicester, UK
Michael Obach: Health Division at TECNALIA Research & Innovation, Mikeletegi Pasealekua, 1-3, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
Emad Yaghmaei: Department of Values, Technology, and Innovation (VTI), TU Delft, Jaffalaan 5, 2628 BX Delft, The Netherlands
Veikko Ikonen: Value-Driven Decision Making, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Tekniikankatu 1, 33720 Tampere, Finland
Kate Chatfield: School of Health Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Fylde Rd, PR1 2HE Preston, UK

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 6, 1-19

Abstract: Responsible research and innovation (RRI) is an approach to research and innovation governance aiming to ensure that research purpose, process and outcomes are acceptable, sustainable and even desirable. In order to achieve this ambitious aim, RRI must be relevant to research and innovation in industry. In this paper, we discuss a way of understanding and representing RRI that resonates with private companies and lends itself to practical implementation and action. We propose the development of an RRI maturity model in the tradition of other well-established maturity models, linked with a corporate research and development (R&D) process. The foundations of this model lie in the discourse surrounding RRI and selected maturity models from other domains as well as the results of extensive empirical investigation. The model was tested in three industry environments and insights from these case studies show the model to be viable and useful in corporate innovation processes. With this approach, we aim to inspire further research and evaluation of the proposed maturity model as a tool for facilitating the integration of RRI in corporate management.

Keywords: responsible research and innovation; RRI; industry; maturity model; R&D management; innovation process (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (44)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:6:p:1036-:d:101628

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