The overall GoNano experience has elucidated opportunities and challenges of co-creation as a tool to enhance the responsiveness of research and innovation. Some of the main lessons learnt through the GoNano co-creation process were that guided interactions between different stakeholders can lead to novel suggestions on how to integrate broader considerations in research and innovation decisions. The co-creation process was well received and reached the goal of bridging factual gaps and gaps in mindsets. Participants appreciated the co-creation events and valued the opportunity to learn from stakeholders with whom they would not normally engage. They moreover realized that the productive integration of societal considerations in research and innovation will, to a large extent, depend on mutual learning between stakeholders, and the shared conviction that broader societal perspectives matter.
The findings of the GoNano co-creation process confirm that with some effort and careful preparation, it is possible to demonstrate to stakeholders that it does make sense to look at the broader dimensions of research. However, it can be challenging to get from constructive dialogue to practical action. Identifying concrete interests and motivation of all participants as well as translating needs and concerns from the social realm to practical options in the technological and innovation realm is key for the process.
The project produced the following key results:
Showcased how continuous engagement activities in research and innovation processes can lead to product suggestions for future nanotechnologies aligned to the values, needs and expectations of society.
• In total 92 product suggestions have been collected and elaborated on over the course of the project. These suggestions varied widely in scope and nature. GoNano partners selected a handful and developed five narratives that indicated how key suggestions evolved over time, maturing from an initial suggestion made in the expert interviews into a highly specific proposition towards the end. The narratives were used as the basis for five audio-visual vignettes capturing the development of the concrete product suggestions and/or research aims that came out of the collaboration between citizens and stakeholders. (D4.5)
Provided good practices and recommendations (pros and cons) to performing co-creation.
• The overall GoNano experience has elucidated opportunities and challenges of co-creation as a tool to enhance the responsiveness of research and innovation. (D4.4) The GoNano co-creation process has given the following insights and set of processual learnings for future co-creation initiatives:
- Guided interactions between different stakeholders can lead to novel suggestions on how to integrate broader considerations in research and innovation decisions.
- Mutual learning between different types of stakeholders is key in the integration of societal consideration in research and innovation.
- Getting from constructive dialogue to practical action is challenging.
- Calls for responsiveness will need to identify the win-win opportunities where ‘doing good’ and ‘doing well’ coincide.
Given a strong message on the value, benefits, and limits of RRI and co-creation to EU and national policy makers (and practitioners)
• The project was able to send a strong message to policymakers on the value and challenges of implementing responsible research and innovation practices in nanotechnology research and innovation processes. Three white papers and seven policy briefs on how to embed societal engagement summarize the main policy recommendations. These results are not only of relevance to the Horizon 2020 programme, but also for Horizon Europe and national and international research and innovation programmes. (D5.3 and D5.5)
Showcased added value of co creation for business and industry.
• The GoNano experiences provide some initial clues to the potential added value for producers, researchers, and policy makers. The business case for co-creation seems to look stronger if it is interpreted broadly, as the potential to realise value in the broader sense for all innovation actors. For researchers, co-creation could help to define and inspire new inroads for research, gain access to future technology users and attract new sources of funding. For policy makers, co-creation could offer ways to deal with wicked problems that carry broader stakeholder support. (D5.4)
Online guidelines and easy-to-understand information for the public and stakeholder groups wanting to be involved in nanotechnology R&I.
• The project has offered guidelines to citizens and other stakeholders who would like to have a voice in nanotechnology. (D6.2)
Developed Co-creation tools and educational materials for researchers and engineers to enhance the responsiveness of nanotechnology research and innovation.
• Throughout the project the GoNano partners have identified, developed, tested, implemented, assessed, and optimised methods for citizen and stakeholder engagement. Learnings from this process have been re-packaged into online training material for researchers and engineers wanting to learn more on how they can facilitate their own co-creation processes. (D6.1)
