Simplifying responsible research and innovation – a tool building in societal readiness into research

Researchers and research funders are increasingly seeking to ensure their work is aligned to societal needs and to prevent it from having foreseeable negative impacts, particularly in fast moving and ethically sensitive fields. In this post, Stefan de Jong, Michael J. Bernstein and Ingeborg Meijer, describe their work developing a tool that facilitates researchers and research funders to incorporate responsible research and innovation values into their work

Mutual learning exercise on citizen science initiatives: policy and practice. Fourth thematic report: enabling environments and sustaining citizen science

This publication focuses on enabling environments and the institutional and governance arrangements that can support Citizen Science, with a particular focus on the role of different stakeholders, including research institutes, funding bodies, public authorities, businesses and civil society organisations in promoting Citizen Science. It provides the outcome of the discussions of two separate two-day workshop sessions on recommendations on enabling environments, good practices, lessons learned and success factors identified to implement new enabling factors for Citizen Science

Serration pattern analysis for differentiating epidermolysis bullosa acquisita from other pemphigoid diseases

Background: Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) microscopy of a skin biopsy specimen is the reference standard for the diagnosis of pemphigoid diseases (PDs). Serration pattern analysis enables the differentiation of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) from other PDs using DIF microscopy alone. However, practice gaps need to be addressed in order to implement this technique in the routine diagnostic procedure. Objective: We sought to determine and optimize the technical requirements for serration pattern analysis of DIF microscopy and determine interrater conformity of serration pattern analysis. Methods: We compared serration pattern analysis of routine DIF microscopy from laboratories in Groningen, The Netherlands and Lubeck, Germany with 4 blinded observers. Skin biopsy specimens from 20 patients with EBA and other PDs were exchanged and analyzed. Various factors were evaluated, including section thickness, transport medium, and biopsy specimen processing. Results: The interrater conformity of our 4 observers was 95.7%. Recognition of serration patterns was comparable in samples transported in saline and in Michel's medium and with section thicknesses of 4, 6, and 8 mu m. Limitations: Limitations include our small sample size and the availability of 20 samples that were compared retrospectively. Conclusion: DIF serration pattern analysis is not restricted by variation in laboratory procedures, transport medium, or experience of observers. This learnable technique can be implemented as a routine diagnostic method as an extension of DIF microscopy for subtyping PD. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2018;78:754-9.

Driving the innovation process by connecting regional knowledge bases to local needs

Novel approaches are needed to support the creation of more open, inclusive, and self-sustaining R&I ecosystems in healthcare. This study analysed 3 European regions (Murcia ES), (Örebro SE), and (Republic of Cyprus CY), incorporating complementary approaches from Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and Research and Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3). The exercise entailed the identification of healthcare and innovation stakeholders and the characterisation of the policy landscape in each territory. Moreover, the strengths of the regional knowledge base was analysed by measuring the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) indicator based on relatedness measurement, and by using micro-level fields analyses of scientific publications. This methodology allowed us to identify the fields and topics (strengths) that provide opportunities for innovation processes. Additional identification of social needs in the three territories showed profound differences regarding the alignment of the selected needs with respect to the regions’ capabilities. The results suggest that a timely direct interaction with territorial stakeholders can help in selecting the most promising innovation priorities that are based on local needs and knowledge. The process of interaction requires early engagement to support territorial ownership and is further reinforced by RRI policies in place

Driving the innovation process by connecting regional knowledge bases to local needs

Novel approaches are needed to support the creation of more open, inclusive, and self-sustaining R&I ecosystems in healthcare. This study analysed 3 European regions (Murcia ES), (Örebro SE), and (Republic of Cyprus CY), incorporating complementary approaches from Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and Research and Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3). The exercise entailed the identification of healthcare and innovation stakeholders and the characterisation of the policy landscape in each territory. Moreover, the strengths of the regional knowledge base was analysed by measuring the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) indicator based on relatedness measurement, and by using micro-level fields analyses of scientific publications. This methodology allowed us to identify the fields and topics (strengths) that provide opportunities for innovation processes. Additional identification of social needs in the three territories showed profound differences regarding the alignment of the selected needs with respect to the regions’ capabilities. The results suggest that a timely direct interaction with territorial stakeholders can help in selecting the most promising innovation priorities that are based on local needs and knowledge. The process of interaction requires early engagement to support territorial ownership and is further reinforced by RRI policies in place

Mutual learning exercise on citizen science initiatives: policy and practice: final report

Over the past decade, great advances have been made in applying innovative participatory and inclusive research practices across a wide range of domains. These have involved increasing numbers of citizens in monitoring, observing, and co-researching societal issues such as climate change impacts on the environment and public health, sustainable mobility, and plastic pollution in rivers and oceans. Important outcomes have been achieved, from fundamental scientific discoveries1 to data that support evidence-informed policy

Europe's plans for responsible science

In the past, European framework programs for research and innovation have included funding for the integration of science and society (1). Collaborative projects have brought together diverse sets of actors to co-create and implement common agendas through citizen science, science communication, public engagement, and responsible research and innovation (RRI) and have built an evidence base about science-society interaction (2, 3). In the proposal for the upcoming Horizon Europe program, however, there is no sustained support for RRI, nor is there a program line dedicated to co-creating knowledge and agendas with civil society (4). These serious oversights must be corrected before the Horizon Europe program is adopted by the Council and the European Parliament