First corporate governance guide for responsible innovation

Innovate UK and industry collaborate with BSI to launch the first corporate governance framework for responsible innovation.

 

BSI, the UK National Standards body has published Publicly Available Specification (PAS) Responsible Innovation – Guide. Sponsored by Innovate UK, it is the first national framework to help organisations to work through the demands of innovating in a responsible manner and demonstrating best practice.

 

Responsible research and innovation is acknowledged by business, policymakers and government bodies as a critical component of governance systems across the European Union. Current RRI approaches focus on basic research, with the main emphasis being on the use by academics of university ethics committees. This new standardised guide covers product, service and process innovation support to companies that wish to innovate responsibly and to demonstrate their responsible behaviour.

 

The fast-tracked standardisation document provides a practical guide that helps companies to understand the need for responsible behaviour and chart a path through conflicting aspirations and demands of a broad range of stakeholders. It allows organisations to demonstrate that they are innovating responsibly, whilst taking account of companies’ needs to continue to innovate in a timely manner, to ensure that they remain competitive internationally.

 

Paul Mason, Director – Responsive Programmes at Innovate UK said:

“Companies developing new products, services or processes in any market or technology area, will find PAS 440 directly relevant. Innovate UK has found that most innovative companies want to do the right thing. The question, in very new and disruptive areas where the potential uses of a technology are still being explored, is ‘what is the right thing?’. This standard can help companies follow best practice so they can innovate more responsibly in the eyes of customers, investors and wider society.”

 

The creation of this free to download standardisation document has been overseen by a steering group made-up of organisations across multiple sectors and innovation researchers. It aims to provide a responsible innovation framework that is usable in any sector of the economy where radically new and innovative technologies, products, services and processes are being developed.

 

Download PAS 440 Responsible Innovation – Guide for free here.