Responsible research and innovation (RRI) as a driving force for change in corporate communication: new forms of governance and participatory structures

Abstract

Nowadays, the emerging discipline of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) has great acceptance among the scientific community in general. Nevertheless, its presence in social sciences has not reached the development obtained in other disciplines. Studies describing RRI application to areas such as business, and more specifically, corporate communication, are scarce. The objective of this study is to show the possible application of the principles of the emerging RRI discipline to business and corporate communication, as well as the main barriers and benefits that could arise. For this, we provide a documentary review of the existing literature and an analysis of fifteen semi-structured interviews with Spanish experts in RRI. Likewise, the article addresses the relationship between RRI and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). As a main conclusion, we observe that RRI has the potential to become the driving force for new forms of governance and communication, but requires changes in corporate philosophy and performance, as it is a bottom-up participatory movement, promoted by the objective of a sustainable society for future generations. In addition, this study represents a contribution to the current discussion regarding the application of the principles and processes of RRI beyond the academic field.