Between Inclusiveness and Responsibility. STI policy agendas, frameworks and practices 'towards society' in developing countries

• In Event: Global Perspectives on Responsible Innovation: Widening the Gaze I

Abstract

In recent years, a series of prominent –and rather ambiguous- terms such as “inclusive”, “social” and “responsible” applied to innovation gained strength, marking a normative turn in an understanding of Science, Technology and Innovation “towards society”, bringing with it new sets of national and international policy recommendations, discourses, planning, instruments and incentives. This trend arose from a disenchantment with hegemonic evolutionary economy premises in terms of actual socio-environmental benefits and STI governance processes, questioning competitiveness and economic growth as the key goals of STI policies and assumptions of social welfare for all as a trickle-down effect.
While Responsible Innovation narratives gained presence in developed countries, the Global South predominantly took up on Inclusive Innovation approaches, but dialog between both perspectives has still been scarce.
In Latin America, scholars and policy makers have embraced Inclusive Innovation discourses focusing the agenda on inequality and poverty problems. In the different countries, these have been transformed and locally redefined by the interaction between policy makers, scholars, social movements, NGOs and firms, adopting different conceptual forms (“social technologies” in Brazil, “technologies for social inclusion” in Argentina, “socially oriented innovation systems” in Uruguay), policy aims and being translated into diverse policy instruments that contend/adjust the hegemonic ones.
Exploring different understandings on “what is inclusive” STI across the globe, and how these visions translate into national policies and practices in Latin America, this work aims to establish a dialogue with Responsible Innovation premises, looking for contact/divergence points, exploring its adequacy and relevance for the Latin American setting.

Authors

• Hernan Thomas, IESCT-UNQ (Institute of Science and Technology Studies - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes) / CONICET (National Council of Scientific and Technological Research)

• Gabriela Bortz, IESCT-UNQ (Institute of Science and Technology Studies - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes) / CONICET

• Santiago Garrido, IESCT-UNQ (Institute of Science and Technology Studies - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes) / CONICET