Assessment of Responsible Research and Innovation and its Role in Alleviating or Solving Societal Issues

Abstract

Objective: Responsible research and innovation is a transparent and interactive process in which key players in the fields of science, technology, and societal innovation collaborate with regard to acceptability (ethical), sustainability, and societal desirability, both with and in relation to each other, in the context of innovation processes and deliverable products, to institutionalize scientific and technological progress, and to be accountable to society in addressing and alleviating its issues. Nowadays, the necessity of the role of research and innovation in tackling societal challenges is receiving significant attention. In this regard, the roles of universities, research institutes, and scientific centers are crucial. Responsible research and innovation form a policy framework aiming to align technological innovation with social values, engaging various stakeholders in multidimensional dialogue on key issues such as ethics, scientific education, open access to knowledge, and social participation. Therefore, this research is conducted with the goal of studying the evolution of this concept and its impact on alleviating or solving societal issues.

Methodology: Within this manuscript, a comprehensive and thorough scientometric investigation has been carried out in the realm of innovation and responsible research. The first phase of this research endeavor involved an in-depth exploration of the concept of "responsible research and innovation" utilizing data sourced from the Web of Science, and an exhaustive analysis of reputable ISI publications spanning the previous three decades. Subsequent to this initial phase, subsequent steps included the meticulous screening and identification of pertinent articles based on title, abstract, and content, with the final selection of articles undergoing a detailed bibliometric analysis using a specialized software package within the R environment. This specific bibliometric tool serves as an invaluable instrument for conducting quantitative research within the domain of scientometrics, specifically designed for the statistical scrutiny of articles retrieved from citation databases. The statistical methodologies employed within the context of this research were predominantly focused on the examination of scientific collaborations among researchers, co-citations, as well as the reciprocal amplification of scientific endeavors. Finally, through a meticulous qualitative assessment of the chosen articles post-screening, the outcomes derived were meticulously compared against the results of the scientometric analysis, leading to the introduction of novel concepts and insights into the discourse.

Findings: This study demonstrates that various groups exist that are interrelated in terms of responsibility and emphasizes the importance of coherence among them. Furthermore, fundamental concepts such as public participation, sustainability, ethics, governance, and the very concept of responsible research and innovation are evolutionary concepts in this field of knowledge. In this research, selected articles were identified and analyzed from various textual dimensions, leading to the emergence of new concepts. In this study, 33 concepts were identified in 8 different themes. Also, based on scientometric analysis and word occurrence analysis, 10 most frequently used words were identified. Finally, through a joint review, 5 key concepts for this domain were identified and introduced. These 5 concepts include public participation, sustainability, ethics, governance, and responsible research and innovation.

Conclusion: The investigation at hand has revealed that the realm of responsible research and innovation in the field of literature has witnessed a substantial increase in growth and advancement over the recent years. The discoveries made through this study have the potential to lay out a clearly defined trajectory for the progression of innovation and responsible research within both the spheres of academic research and practical organizational settings. Moreover, it has the capacity to delve deep into the ongoing evolution of research and innovation, shedding light on their societal obligations. These thorough analyses have also played a part in enhancing comprehension regarding the historical roots, prevailing trends, and prospective pathways of responsible innovation, thereby offering invaluable guidance for policymakers and individuals keen on fostering innovative strategies and regulations.

Keywords: Responsible Innovation, Responsible Research, Responsible Research and Innovation, Review Study, Scientometrics, Web of Science database, Biblioshiny.