Responsible Innovation (PDF)

Science and innovation have the power to transform our lives and
the world we live in - for better or worse - in ways that
often transcend borders and generations: from the innovation of
complex financial products that played such an important role in
the recent financial crisis to current proposals to intentionally
engineer our Earth's climate. The promise of science and
innovation brings with it ethical dilemmas and impacts which are
often uncertain and unpredictable: it is often only once these have
emerged that we feel able to control them. How do we undertake
science and innovation responsibly under such conditions, towards
not only socially acceptable, but socially desirable goals and in a
way that is democratic, equitable and sustainable? Responsible
innovation challenges us all to think about our responsibilities
for the future, as scientists, innovators and citizens, and to act
upon these.

This book begins with a description of the current landscape of
innovation and in subsequent chapters offers perspectives on the
emerging concept of responsible innovation and its historical
foundations, including key elements of a responsible innovation
approach and examples of practical implementation.

Written in a constructive and accessible way, Responsible
Innovation includes chapters on:

* Innovation and its management in the 21st century

* A vision and framework for responsible innovation

* Concepts of future-oriented responsibility as an underpinning
philosophy

* Values - sensitive design

* Key themes of anticipation, reflection, deliberation and
responsiveness

* Multi - level governance and regulation

* Perspectives on responsible innovation in finance, ICT,
geoengineering and nanotechnology

Essentially multidisciplinary in nature, this landmark text
combines research from the fields of science and technology
studies, philosophy, innovation governance, business studies and
beyond to address the question, "How do we ensure the
responsible emergence of science and innovation in
society?"