Fostering improved training tools for Responsible Research and Innovation

Abstract

The EU-funded project FIT4RRI (2017-20) moves from the assumption that there is a serious gap between the potential role Responsible Research and innovation (RRI) and Open Science (OS) could play in helping Research Funding and Performing Organisations (RFPOs) to manage the rapid transformation processes affecting science (especially the science-in-society aspects) and the actual impact RRI and OS are currently having on RFPOs, research sectors and national research systems.

FIT4RRI is precisely intended to contribute in bridging this gap, by promoting viable strategies to activate institutional changes in RFPOs. The project acts on two key factors i.e. Enhancing competences and skills related to RRI and OS through an improvement of the RRI and OS training offer (in terms of training tools, actions and strategies) currently available; Institutionally embedding RRI/OS practices and approaches by promoting the diffusion of more advanced governance settings able to create an enabling environment for RRI and OS.

With this double aim in view, FIT4RRI is follows an overall methodology based on three main steps: an analytical strand devoted to understand what is happening in the RRI and OS practice, taking into account general trends, barriers and drivers to RRI and OS, interests and values, advanced experiences; a testing strand (observing RRI/OS in action though 4 co-creation experiments) aimed at figuring out possible solutions in terms of training approaches and governance settings; and a proactive strand, promoting changes (i.e. developing training tools and actions and easy-accessible evidence-based guidelines on governance settings functioning as enablers for RRI and OS).

After a landscape scan of existing training materials, an extensive literature review and a benchmarking process, the project is currently moving into the testing and proactive strand. Four of our partners are conducting experiments to observe how RRI and OS are currently implemented in their institution’s practices, thereby they cover different pillars of RRI and follow a multi-stakeholder approach.

One co-creation experiment deals with modelling optimization of energy efficiency and will observe the consequences of training researchers in the main pillars of RRI. The second experiment deals with text and data mining focusing on non-open access and governance issues. The third experiment involves developing an RRI-based research centre taking into account science education, public engagement and governance. The last one looks into ethics and science education while working on a health care monitor system with optical monitoring.

Building on this, the project will develop improved training tools for RRI and OS as well as guidelines on governance settings for RRI. FIT4RRI uses the existing infrastructure developed by the project FOSTER Plus and aligns efforts in collecting training materials and creating new courses.