Parallel Session A - Presentation by René von Schomberg

1. 1
Dr. Dr.phil René von Schomberg*
*The views expressed here are those of the author and may not in any circumstances be
regarded as stating an official position of the European Commission
Presentation is based on AMONG OTHER: 'A vision of Responsible Research and
Innovation' in: In: R. Owen, M.Heintz and J .Bessant (eds.) Responsible Innovation.
London: John Wiley, 2013,

2. Defining RRI (von Schomberg, 2011)
Responsible Research and Innovation is a transparent,
interactive process by which societal actors and innovators
become mutually responsive to each other with a view to
the (ethical) acceptability, sustainability and societal
desirability of the innovation process and its (marketable)
outcomes and impacts
IMPLICATIONS
-FROM ELSA-Research to Normative Design of Tech
-From Technology Assessment to stakeholder commitment
to socially desirable objectives

3. Passarola- 'Ugly
bird'
"A machine for sailing through the air" 1702

4. Benefits: 'Manage 200 leagues a day'
'Bring far away countries news and orders'
'The furthermost regions will be discovered, to the
Portuguese nation's benefit'
Risks: 'many crimes will be committed, as (…) to easily
flee from one country to another'
Recommendation to the king: "its use will have to be limited"

5. Technical inventions vs. innovation
RESPONSIBLE CONTROL/USE RESPONSIBLE MARKETING
Responsible governor: central
control agent
Restricted use
Benefit for the state
Moral constraint of governor
• "Loss of control agent"
• Democratization of
use/privatization of
production
• Market-competition for
'benefit of all'-market-success
• Market hurdles

6. Innovation vs. Responsible
Innovation
MARKET-BASED INNOVATION RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION
State responsibility for risks
Macro-economic assessment:
'infinite growth'
steer less, inherently good
'the faster, the better'
Technology-oriented R&D
State responsibility for `right'
impacts of R&I
Economic and societal impact of
'knowledge'': 'sustained growth'
responsive to basic needs,
reflect basic values
Innovation is 'managed'
Issue-oriented R&I

7. Responsible Development of Tech
vs Responsible Innovation
Responsible Development Responsible Innovation
 Identification and management of
ethical, legal, and societal
implications
 Incorporation of safety evaluation of
nanomaterial into the product life
cycle and allocation of
 Budgets for identification and study
of risks
 Identification of knowledge gaps
and regulatory needs
 Involvement of stakeholders and
engagement in international
dialogue
 Key-tech focussed
 Anticipatory Governance
 Deliberative Governance: Early
policy responsive and stakeholder
commitment
 Ethics of Co-Responsibility
 Ethics as a driving force ('privacy
by design' etc)
 Mid-stream modulation
 Driving innovation 'societal
desirable ends'- Innovation
partnerships
 Societal objective focussed:
whatever it takes as 'means':
multitech-social innovation etc

8. FEATURES OF RESPONSIBLE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
Product dimension: addressing
normative anchor points
Process dimension: deliberative
democracy
Institutionalization of Technology
Assessment and Foresight
Use of Code of Conducts
Application of the precautionary
principle; on-going risk
assessment; on-going monitoring
Ensuring market accountability: Use of
Standards, Certification schemes, Labels
Use of demonstration projects:
from risk to innovation governance
'Ethics' as a design principle for technology
Normative models for governance
Ongoing Public debate: Moderating "Policy
Pull and Technology Push"

9. Irresponsible Innovation
Technology Push: GMOs (Rathenau-Rathenau: Ag.
Biotech consensual among stakeholders….)
Policy Pull: biometrics (visa), 'body scanner' etc
Neglectance of basic principles: EPD, Smart-meters
etc.
Lack of Foresight and Precaution: Asbestos-see 'late
lessons from early warning'

10. renevonschomberg.wordpress.co
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Thanks for your attention!
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