Martin, D. & Regan, L. (2019). Lessons from the Implementation of RRI in Universities and Scientific Institutions. Kleve, Germany: NUCLEUS Project.
At the heart of the NUCLEUS project is the idea that RRI functions in the same way as cells in an organism. The aim has been to develop and nurture a productive ‘metabolism’ that integrates all these cells, fostering RRI processes which can respond to diverse needs, values and socio-cultural environments.
Productive relationships require open communication and respect for values, expectations and goals – and the relationship between research and society is no exception. Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) is a process in which stakeholders – such as researchers, citizens and policy-makers – work together to align research and innovation with the values, needs and expectations of society. Engaging with a range of stakeholders and working throughout the entire process of knowledge and value creation, RRI aims to address grand societal challenges in a more inclusive way.
NUCLEUS was a four-year Horizon 2020 RRI project that aimed to develop a New Understanding of Communication, Learning and Engagement in Universities and Scientific institutions. Its main goal was to implement this understanding by embedding RRI into the governance and culture of research institutions across Europe, China and South Africa.
In order to achieve a new understanding of innovation, public engagement, creativity and learning, RRI requires new structures and formats, as well as training and support for scientists and stakeholders – both inside Higher Education Institutions and in the public sphere.
Through a team of people – our Embedded Nuclei – the NUCLEUS project tested the principles of RRI through real-time experiments in 10 research institutions across Europe, and in South Africa and China. These experiments, shaped by our empirical research, involved implementing approaches and activities that would help to overcome institutional obstacles and demonstrate the benefits of RRI to each institution. Ultimately, NUCLEUS aimed to develop practical recommendations for research leadership teams on how to implement RRI in their institutions. The true success of the project will be realised through the Living Network of partners committed to sustaining the principles of RRI beyond the life of the project.
