May 2, 2022
The event focused on Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) concepts and identified situation in the Western Balkans on RRI perspectives, as well as the ethics issues in research and ethics governance systems for RRI in Higher Education and Research Performing Organisations (RFO).
Date: 07.04.2022
Location: University of Novi Sad, Amphitheatre of the Rectorate building
Organisers: University of Novi Sad
Format: hybrid – onsite and online
Who attended the event?
The event gathered 41 participants from the Western Balkans whom represented the project partners and the following institutions:
- Foundation Macedonia 2025
- MIR Foundation
- Faculty for project and innovation management
- Faculty for Technical Science, University of Novi Sad
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad
- School of Economics Uzice Serbia
- Institute of Food technology
- Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad
- The College of Hotel Management
- Faculty of Science, University of Novi Sad
- Polytechnic University of Tirana
What happened at the event?
Mr. Goran Stojanovic, coordinator of the WBC-RRI.NET project welcomed the participants at the premises of University of Novi Sad. The presentations followed the agenda and below we highlight some key points addressed:
The RRI concepts and the territorial view, Nikos Zaharis, SEERC, Greece
- General introduction: The RRI concepts and the territorial view
The WBC-RRI.NET APPROACH – The RRI keys and activities of WBC-RRI.NET working groups, Elke Dall, ZSI, Austria
- Benefits of promoting Responsible Research and Innovation
- Open working groups and Co-designing activities
SITUATION IN THE WESTERN BALKANS – View from WB research community on perspectives on RRI and presentation of the anchor activities, Rudina Toto, COPLAN, Albania
- General challenges on national level
- Baseline study: recommended practices and policies
Understanding of ethics issues in research: differences in perspectives, Isidoros Karatzas, European Commission, DG R&I, Head of the Research Ethics and Integrity Sector
- How to get from principles to the lab: Ethics and Integrity for researchers
- Serious and/or complex ethics issues
Discussing Ethics Governance System for RRI in Higher Education and Research Performing Organization, Moderator: Andjela Pepic, UNIBL, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- What are the reasons to establish ethics board and what are reasons to not have one? What are the framework conditions?
- How are ethics boards established and how are they implemented? What are the most common challenges?
- Which target groups are to be considered? Are researchers considering the ethical issues and get in contact? What is the role of the RPO management? How are the members identified / nominated?
- What are the differences between the scientific disciplines? What can be learnt from each other?
The event was followed by the meetings of working groups within the project, which are focused on gender equality and ethical issues in research (WG1), science education and public engagement (WG2), as well as open science and open access (WG3). The meetings of the working groups were organised in parallel sessions, consisted of a plenary session and session for discussion. The last meeting session included conclusions by the Working Group Leaders and discussion on cross-fertilization.