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Reflexive Sustainable Technology Labs: Combining Real-World Labs, Technology Assessment, and Responsible Research and Innovation

Author

Listed:
  • Oliver Parodi

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Paula Bögel

    (Vechta Institute of Sustainability Transformation in Rural Areas (VISTRA), University of Vechta, 49377 Vechta, Germany)

  • Richard Beecroft

    (KIT Center Humans and Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Andreas Seebacher

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Felix Wagner

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Julia Hahn

    (Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany)

Abstract

There is an increasing call for science to contribute more to real-world solutions for a sustainability transformation. At the same time, the scientific landscape encompasses different concepts, which are characterized as practice-oriented, addressing social challenges and wicked problems, which thus offer potential to contribute to a transformation, notably: technology assessment (TA), responsible research and innovation (RRI), and real-world labs (RwLs). This article deals with the question of how these different concepts can be better integrated to contribute to a transformation. With this goal in mind, we analyze the three concepts, show their core characteristics, and identify their common key similarities. TA and RRI have rarely been connected to transformative sustainability research in general or RwLs in particular. Based on the key similarities and respective strengths of the three concepts, we suggest four ways to integrate the approaches, including the novel endeavor of a Reflexive Sustainable Technology Lab as the highest level of the concepts’ synthesis.

Suggested Citation

  • Oliver Parodi & Paula Bögel & Richard Beecroft & Andreas Seebacher & Felix Wagner & Julia Hahn, 2022. "Reflexive Sustainable Technology Labs: Combining Real-World Labs, Technology Assessment, and Responsible Research and Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-14, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:22:p:15094-:d:972891
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bauer, Anja & Kastenhofer, Karen, 2019. "Policy advice in technology assessment: Shifting roles, principles and boundaries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 32-41.
    2. André Martinuzzi & Vincent Blok & Alexander Brem & Bernd Stahl & Norma Schönherr, 2018. "Responsible Research and Innovation in Industry—Challenges, Insights and Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-9, March.
    3. Jun, Seung-Pyo, 2012. "A comparative study of hype cycles among actors within the socio-technical system: With a focus on the case study of hybrid cars," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 79(8), pages 1413-1430.
    4. Benjamin K. Sovacool & Peter Newell & Sanya Carley & Jessica Fanzo, 2022. "Equity, technological innovation and sustainable behaviour in a low-carbon future," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(3), pages 326-337, March.
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    1. Leonhard Hennen & Jürgen Kopfmüller & Maria Maia & Linda Nierling & Constanze Scherz, 2023. "Ways towards Transformation—Conceptual Approaches and Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-27, October.

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