Embedding responsible innovation into research impact and knowledge exchange
Workforce training & enablement
Developed and delivered training that helped researchers, impact professionals, and knowledge exchange teams understand how responsible innovation could be embedded into impact planning, knowledge exchange, and innovation activities, strengthening organisation-wide capability to support research impact.
The Challenge
The UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) had introduced expectations around responsible innovation for institutions undertaking EPSRC-funded research. Research, impact, enterprise, and knowledge exchange professionals were increasingly being asked to support researchers in delivering impact and innovation activities while also demonstrating awareness of responsible innovation principles. However, many staff had received little formal support in understanding how responsible innovation could be applied within impact acceleration, knowledge exchange, and enterprise activities. The client (a group of universities) identified an opportunity to build organisation-wide awareness and capability by helping both professional services staff and researchers understand how these agendas could work together in practice.
The Approach
Developed and delivered a series of workshops, webinars, masterclasses, and supporting resources designed to build organisation-wide awareness of responsible innovation and its practical application within impact, knowledge exchange, and enterprise activities.
Training Highlights
Introduction to responsible innovation principles and frameworks.
Exploration of the relationship between responsible innovation, impact, and knowledge exchange.
Practical examples demonstrating how responsible innovation can support research translation and innovation activities.
Guidance for researchers and professional services staff on applying responsible innovation within their respective roles.
Resources designed to support continued learning and implementation beyond the training session.
The Outcome
Increased awareness of responsible innovation among researchers, impact professionals, and knowledge exchange teams.
Strengthened understanding of the relationship between responsible innovation, research impact, knowledge exchange, and enterprise activities.
Built organisation-wide capability to support the integration of responsible innovation into impact and knowledge exchange initiatives.
Increased participant confidence in discussing and applying responsible innovation principles in professional practice.
Equipped staff to support researchers undertaking impact and innovation activities within an evolving funding environment.