Translating tools and indicators in territorial RRI.

Area of Science:

• Science and Technology Policy
• Regional Innovation Ecosystems
• Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)

Background:

• The European Union's Horizon 2020 program funded projects to implement Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) within regional contexts.
• The TRANSFORM project is one such initiative focusing on territorial RRI deployment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document and evaluate the achievements of the TRANSFORM project in implementing RRI at a territorial level.
• To analyze the territorial translations of RRI principles and their co-emergence with organizational and institutional structures.

Main Methods:

• Utilized evaluative inquiry and theoretical reasoning to assess RRI implementation.
• Examined the adaptation and translation of RRI principles within local contexts.

Main Results:

• RRI implementation is not a "start from zero" endeavor but builds upon pre-existing relationships and collaborative efforts.
• RRI deployment in regional contexts is characterized by a "logic of care" and "maintenance work," contrasting with the "logic of choice" often driven by quantitative indicators in funding proposals.
• Territorial translations of RRI involve adapting general principles to local needs and challenges.

Conclusions:

• Warns against the over-standardization of RRI through "toolification" and excessive reliance on quantitative indicators.
• Recommends the use of evaluative inquiry methods for monitoring RRI performance to ensure its meaningful application and impact.