Fostering the application of Responsible Research and Innovation

Key aspects of our project

Our network is comprised of reputable WB implementing partners and RRI experienced partners.

We emphasize spreading of our activities through the 5 target territories.

WBC-RRI.NET is an international project funded by the Horizon 2020 programme.

Building capacities and developing innovative ways of connecting science to society. RRI principles act as enablers to the shared learning.

Our RRI Strategies present an inclusive way through active participation of all quadruple helix actors.

Research and innovation efforts in the Western Balkans for bridging the remaining ‘gap’ with the rest European regions.

Our Story

International EU-funded Project

The project Embedding RRI in Western Balkan Countries: Enhancement of Self-Sustaining R&I Ecosystems, highly recognized by its acronym WBC-RRI.NET, is part of the H2020-SwafS-2018-2020 programme, with grant agreement No. 101006279.

RRI in the Western Balkan Countries

WBC-RRI.NET fosters the application of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) at the territorial level in five Western Balkan Research and Innovation (R&I) ecosystems and promotes a multi-level governance framework for steering R&I in the Western Balkans (WB). Although Western Balkan countries have improved in terms of R&I performance, research and innovation efforts should be further enhanced.

Smart Specialization Strategies

RRI principles act as enablers to the shared learning and diffusion of R&I governance innovations at territorial level, including Smart Specialization Strategies (S3) in the WBCs. The framework is based on a ‘smart directionality’ approach. R&I planning and S3 strategies have the potential to be characterised by an RRI-driven open and inclusive approach, entailing a comprehensive stakeholder involvement and engagement with a focus on citizens’ participation.

Five different WB territories

RRI approach

The procedural approach of RRI contains the following conditions, that are a priori inherent into RRI processes and therefore applicable to the development of (regional) R&I ecosystems: anticipation while contemplating on the possible or unintended results and applications of R&I in accordance to societal goals; inclusion when considering the perspective of individuals from all layers of an ecosystem; reflexion when considering the context-based circumstances and motivations of a given situation; responsiveness referring to how the actors involved react to the new state/knowledge resulting after the aforementioned reflections.

Vertical Aspect of Implementation

Within a vertical aspect, the all-encompassing activities are accompanied by the development and implementation of 5 RRI ‘anchor’ initiatives in each territory. The RRI ‘anchor’ initiatives are specific interventions that will touch in-depth specific RRI keys and territorial features and will focus on specific scientific domains in each WB territory.

Local R&I Systems

RRI principles can enable the sustainable development of the local R&I systems, enhancing the effectiveness of R&I strategies contributing to the advancement of Western Balkan socio-economic progress in a transparent, open, and inclusive way through active participation of all quadruple helix actors.

Horizontal Aspect of Implementation

Within a horizontal aspect, we foster comprehension of all RRI pillars. This will be realised by all-encompassing RRI activities extending throughout the entire project, raising an active dialogue in the wider WB macro-region and fostering the comprehension of all RRI pillars and principles under a holistic framework.