European Policy Workshop: “Precaution for responsible innovation”

On February 22 and 23, the RECIPES project has held the European Policy Workshop: “Precaution for responsible innovation”.

Read HERE the summary of the Policy Workshop.

The purpose of the workshop was to review a pre-final version of the RECIPES guidance on how to ensure the Precautionary Principle’s ability to drive responsible innovation. The 2-day-workshop took place online, was hosted by RECIPES partner DIALOGIK and brought together 25 invited experts from EU and national policy-making institutions, European and national agencies, EU policy support organizations and bodies, scholars of science and technology governance, and similar experts.

Participants discussed the pre-final version of the guidance they had received before the event in break-out sessions taking place on both days. The discussion was guided by pre-defined questions. The participants were asked to comment on the clarity, argumentative strength and policy relevance of the guidance and to brainstorm on the exploitation of the document.

The discussions were preceded by some presentations by the RECIPES team. Prof. Ellen Vos (Maastricht University) offered insights into the (research) policy context in which the RECIPES project was launched and how this context has changed over the life of the project. Prof. Kristel de Smedt (Maastricht University) presented the guidance and outlined its purpose, target groups, sources and development process, and structure. She also explained how the guidance is supposed to be used. Aske Palsberg and Niels-Kristian Tjelle Holm (both from The Danish Board of Technology Foundation) presented the RECIPES process of engaging a broad range of actors in the development of the guidance document (in which the European Policy Workshop was the final step). They highlighted that the insights gained from the engagement process were used to create the main structure of the guidance. The workshop was moderated by Dr. Marion Dreyer (DIALOGIK).

The workshop participants have provided the RECIPES team with valuable input and inspiring information and ideas on how to improve the guidance. The main outcome of the event will be summarized in a workshop documentation and made available via the RECIPES website. The finalised guidance will be presented at the RECIPES conference "Precaution for responsible innovation: New options to move forward", taking place on May 11, 2022