Supporting responsible research and innovation within a university-based digital research programme: Reflections from the “hoRRIzon” project

Integration of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) principles into a research project is key to ensure outputs are ethically acceptable and socially desirable. However, translating RRI principles into practice is challenging as there are no recipes that fit all projects. Drawing on interviews and case studies with researchers, external partners and support staff associated with two linked programmes of research addressing trustworthy autonomous systems and the ethical use of personal data, this reflective paper provides a bottom-up perspective on RRI as it is understood and “done” within the focussed, often relatively short, research projects that largely comprise the research programmes. Existing RRI frameworks and tools were found to provide useful resources for use in supported RRI activities. However, effective use is dependant on facilitation by experienced staff, and time pressure and timing within a project can limit the application of RRI. Research institutions and funding bodies could provide more practical and sustained support for RRI practice – throughout the research lifespan - including incentives for RRI and clearer RRI/RI roles and career pathways, helping to develop an embedded community of RRI practice throughout the digital research community and beyond.