Responsibility versus sustainability, ethics, and societal engagement

The German Science, Technology, Innovation context

Authors

  • Miltos Ladikas Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) (Deutschland)
  • Julia Hahn Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) (Deutschland)
  • Leonhard Hennen Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) (Deutschland)
  • Constanze Scherz Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) (Deutschland)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14512/tatup.29.3.64

Keywords:

responsible research and innovation, ethics, engagement, science-technology-innovation, sustainability

Abstract

We examine the concept of responsible research and innovation (RRI) in Germany in the context of national science, technology and innovation (STI) as well as its legal and normative framework in relation to ethics and societal engagement and compare the results to similar international research. Our analysis shows that responsibility plays a central role in research practice guided by research ethics standards and societal grand challenges. Consequently, there is a significant increase in demands for inclusion and engagement of a wider stakeholder spectrum in STI. Compared to other countries, the concept of RRI in Germany is increasingly superseded by that of sustainability. We argue that responsibility and sustainability are conceptually close and highly interchangeable in the German national debate. We conclude with basic recommendations for greater clarity in research on responsibility and sustainability and the aims of ethics and societal engagement.

References

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Published

15.12.2020

How to Cite

1.
Ladikas M, Hahn J, Hennen L, Scherz C. Responsibility versus sustainability, ethics, and societal engagement: The German Science, Technology, Innovation context. TATuP [Internet]. 2020 Dec. 15 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];29(3):64-9. Available from: https://www.tatup.de/index.php/tatup/article/view/6838

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