Norwegian engagement with RRI and the propagation of RRI by the Research Council of Norway

Abstract

Country profiles for the uptake and engagement with responsible research and innovation (RRI) show remarkable differences. Likewise, the role of research funders in instigating changes in the science system is widely recognised, but in the field of RRI, few studies detail efforts beyond the British Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). However, the Research Council of Norway (RCN) has been one of the few large-scale national funders wholeheartedly embracing RRI. In this chapter, we undertake a descriptive study highlighting Norwegian RRI scholarship and the role of the RCN in furthering RRI in the country. We first compare Norwegian research output on RRI to other major contributors, showing that Norwegian RRI research is surprisingly voluminous. When country size is accounted for, Norway is in the top two, only surpassed by the Netherlands. We then detail the funding schemes originally used by the RCN to further RRI in four fields of research: biotechnology, nanotechnology, ICT and digital innovation, and finally responsible innovation and CSR. We discuss evaluations of the programmes and detail funding provided for RRI activities by the RCN. We proceed by briefly touching on recent developments at the RCN. Despite significant organisational turmoil in 2022, the RCN keeps promoting RRI in very visible ways. However, funding dedicated RRI has been scaled back after a marked uptick in the mid to late 2010s. We finish with suggestions for further research.