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Responsible Research and Innovation and the knowledge politics of technoscience

Chris Groves Orcid Logo

Handbook on Knowledge Politics

Swansea University Author: Chris Groves Orcid Logo

Abstract

This chapter critically examines Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) as a knowledge-political response to the challenges posed by technoscientific innovation under conditions of uncertainty. Tracing the historical and conceptual development of RRI, the chapter identifies two interlinked lineag...

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Published in: Handbook on Knowledge Politics
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71304
first_indexed 2026-01-26T09:50:00Z
last_indexed 2026-01-27T05:31:12Z
id cronfa71304
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spelling 2026-01-26T09:49:58.4373074 v2 71304 2026-01-26 Responsible Research and Innovation and the knowledge politics of technoscience 847beea4d3481c4df56d0545a06d7c5b 0000-0002-5873-1119 Chris Groves Chris Groves true false 2026-01-26 SOSS This chapter critically examines Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) as a knowledge-political response to the challenges posed by technoscientific innovation under conditions of uncertainty. Tracing the historical and conceptual development of RRI, the chapter identifies two interlinked lineages—academic and policy-driven—that frame its normative foundations and implementation. While the academic lineage emphasizes reflexivity, care, and the ethics of future-oriented responsibility, the policy lineage anchors RRI in EU institutional values such as sustainability and competitiveness. The chapter explores tensions between these orientations, arguing that RRI’s focus on inclusion and reflexivity often remains constrained by key assumptions about innovation, democratic participation, and institutional legitimacy. Drawing on feminist ethics of care and perspectives from the global South, the chapter proposes rethinking RRI’s normative core through a more politically grounded and relational conception of care. This reframing foregrounds the interdependencies and potential harms embedded in innovation processes. Ultimately, the chapter positions care within RRI not only as an ethical imperative but also as a critical tool for reconfiguring the relationship between technoscience, society, and governance in a post-normal age. Book chapter Handbook on Knowledge Politics 0 0 0 0001-01-01 COLLEGE NANME Social Sciences School COLLEGE CODE SOSS Swansea University Not Required 2026-01-26T09:49:58.4373074 2026-01-26T09:47:27.4589463 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Social Sciences - Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy Chris Groves 0000-0002-5873-1119 1
title Responsible Research and Innovation and the knowledge politics of technoscience
spellingShingle Responsible Research and Innovation and the knowledge politics of technoscience
Chris Groves
title_short Responsible Research and Innovation and the knowledge politics of technoscience
title_full Responsible Research and Innovation and the knowledge politics of technoscience
title_fullStr Responsible Research and Innovation and the knowledge politics of technoscience
title_full_unstemmed Responsible Research and Innovation and the knowledge politics of technoscience
title_sort Responsible Research and Innovation and the knowledge politics of technoscience
author_id_str_mv 847beea4d3481c4df56d0545a06d7c5b
author_id_fullname_str_mv 847beea4d3481c4df56d0545a06d7c5b_***_Chris Groves
author Chris Groves
author2 Chris Groves
format Book chapter
container_title Handbook on Knowledge Politics
institution Swansea University
college_str Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
department_str School of Social Sciences - Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Social Sciences - Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy
document_store_str 0
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description This chapter critically examines Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) as a knowledge-political response to the challenges posed by technoscientific innovation under conditions of uncertainty. Tracing the historical and conceptual development of RRI, the chapter identifies two interlinked lineages—academic and policy-driven—that frame its normative foundations and implementation. While the academic lineage emphasizes reflexivity, care, and the ethics of future-oriented responsibility, the policy lineage anchors RRI in EU institutional values such as sustainability and competitiveness. The chapter explores tensions between these orientations, arguing that RRI’s focus on inclusion and reflexivity often remains constrained by key assumptions about innovation, democratic participation, and institutional legitimacy. Drawing on feminist ethics of care and perspectives from the global South, the chapter proposes rethinking RRI’s normative core through a more politically grounded and relational conception of care. This reframing foregrounds the interdependencies and potential harms embedded in innovation processes. Ultimately, the chapter positions care within RRI not only as an ethical imperative but also as a critical tool for reconfiguring the relationship between technoscience, society, and governance in a post-normal age.
published_date 0001-01-01T05:33:47Z
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score 11.09611

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