RRI-LEADERS aimed at exploring the application and sustainability of the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) paradigm within territorial research and innovation systems, with a special emphasis on instrumentalising territorial leadership in the design of policies that are anticipatory, inclusive, reflexive, and responsive.
Territories - i.e. cities and regions, and local and regional authorities respectively - are the critical link between policies at the EU and national levels and citizens, who are the main beneficiaries but also the main actors in making the foreseen transitions work. Territories have a specific advantage in addressing the complexity of challenges set by the interplay between science and society. Indeed, local stakeholders have an intimate knowledge of the physical territorial setting and local ecology, i.e. of the complex relationships between cultural, social, economic and political actors, of the local dynamics, history, expectations and requirements, as well as of specific concerns.
In light of this, the purpose of the event, organised by the project coordinator Applied Research and Communication Fund (ARC Fund), was to continue the journey of in-depth study into the topics of RRI, with a focus on the integration of the concept of sustainability, innovation policy and policymaking, as well as to think about the future path to follow to foster RRI in Europe.
Given the topic addressed, EURADA was involved since the beginning of the organisation of the final conference in Brussels. Recently, EURADA gained expertise in RRI due to its participation in two Horizon2020 projects, Territoria and TetRRIS. By leveraging its network of experts and projects, EURADA was able to bring three high-level speakers contributing to the discussions: Ricardo García Mira, Coordinator of the ENTRANCES Project; Nina Rilla, from VTT, the coordinating partner of TetRRIS; and Bogdan Chelariu, EURADA president.
The conference opened with two important interventions: Georgios Papanagnou, from DG Research and Innovation (DG RTD), and Silvia Abad from the European Research Executive Agency (EREA), reiterated how RRI dimensions are catalysts of sustainable regional development and how they can lead to higher openness and transparency in regions.
Following, three main sessions structured the entire event. The first one, dedicated to RRI in territorial policymaking: the experience of RRI Leaders, featured the project Work Package (WP) leaders presenting the achievements and results reached during the three years. The second one, titled RRI in Territorial Policymaking: The Wider Picture, saw several sister projects presenting their experiences in RRI implementation in regions. In particular, RIPEET, WBC-RRI.net, ENTRANCES and TetRRIS project representatives contributed to the discussion, generating great public interest and exchanging best practices. Recommendations to policymakers at different governance levels were the event's third and last session.
The RRI-LEADERS consortium has developed a list of policy recommendations for integrating the RRI framework into territorial policymaking processes. These policy recommendations have been identified based on the project results as well as the experiences of the RRI-LEADERS partners gathered during the project implementation. They address the most pressing issues in territories and target mainly territorial policymakers, although they might be of interest to representatives of national and EU-level institutions as well.
EURADA president Bogdan Chelariu was one the panellists of the discussion together with five other high-level speakers. He stressed the role of Regional Development Agencies as neuralgic centres for the regional implementations of RRI pillars, such as ethics, gender equality, governance, open access, public engagement and science education.
This successful final conference featured the participation of around 80 people ranging from policymakers, regional representatives and researchers. Before closing with a pleasant networking cocktail, the conference foresaw an unexpected cultural event. The Elite Ensemble Orchestra from Italy performed in the elegant venue of the Committee of the Regions.
To know more about the content of this event, please consult the Conference Booklet.
