Responsible Innovation in Developing Countries: an Enlarged Agenda

Abstract

The Responsible Research and Innovation framework emerged from the reflection on a socially desirable form of development of emerging technologies in Europe and the United States. In this chapter, I discuss how to further elaborate the framework in order to effectively engage in a dialogue with science, technology and innovation (STI) policy in the developing world, particularly in Latin America. In order to take on this task, I describe first the discussion about uncritical processes of STI policy transfer. Then I analyze the dominant framework of science, technology and innovation policies in the region. Finally, I propose topics that I think should be included in the RRI agenda; themes that will allow the framework to be more responsive to issues related to other geographical contexts. The proposed topics include: (a) expansion of its focus beyond emerging technologies, (b) inclusion of resistance to technologies and contentious politics, (c) global perspective on the production of innovations, (d) building of theoretical links with inclusive innovation frameworks and (d) the development of sensitivity towards intercultural dialogue.