Responsibility-by-design: a management standard to develop technological roadmaps to innovate responsibly
Are you involved in the management of Research and Innovation, and interested in learning more about how to understand, anticipate and manage impacts of technology development in your organization or project?
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After much preparation, we have celebrated a landmark milestone – the launch of a standard which set a new benchmark to address responsibility in innovation strategies.
The new CWA 17796 builds on existing national, Europe, international standards and policies on corporate social responsibility, quality, risk, and innovation management, providing a management standard (Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle) focusing on research and innovation practices.
The guidelines have been developed by CEN/WS 105 experts, who represents the interest of the different stakeholders – industry, laboratories, public administration, university, and research institutes – on the basis of the experience of the EU-funded PRISMA project.
The standard provides guidelines to develop long-term strategies (roadmaps), that integrates considerations of technical, ethical, social, environmental, and economic aspects all along the research, development, and design process leading to an innovation.
Enabling and transformative technologies have an increasing impact on our everyday life, our society, and the environment. Their disruptive character, and their role in the on-going digital and green transition is widely recognized.
Technology developers have an increased responsibility to create innovations that generate benefits and value for the organization and its shareholders and stakeholders and for society.
Besides helping to identify a vision, a set of actions, and a timeline (roadmap) for implementing responsible innovation activities, this guideline also analyses the potential barriers, opportunities, and benefits in pursuing responsible innovation The guidelines have been accompanied by eight company case studies showcasing its implementation on products using nanotechnologies, synthetic biology, internet of things, and autonomous vehicles technologies.
It is essential for companies to identify strategies and practices that fit within the realities and constraints in which they operate. The roadmap described in these guidelines aims to help them do just that. The guidelines include examples of methods for materiality and stakeholder analysis, stakeholder engagement, impact analysis, and key performance indicators (KPIs). The proposed list of responsible innovation indicators upholds monitoring the implementation of responsible innovation principles and actions at the company level.
The guidelines have been developed by CEN/WS 105 experts, who represents the interest of the different stakeholders – industry, laboratories, public administration, university, and research institutes – on the basis of the experience of the EU-funded PRISMA project.
