Responsible Research and Innovation

What is RRI?

Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) forms a continuous process of adapting research and innovation to the values, needs and expectations of society.

The RRI culture supports the democratization of research and innovation ecosystems, encouraging more responsive and inclusive forms of knowledge production and dissemination, creating a more inclusive, open and responsive culture of research and innovation.

This integrative approach seeks to guarantee that all actors involved work together during the Research and Innovation process. To this end, RRI is approached from the perspective of the following agendas:

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Citizen participation

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Gender equality

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Science education

RRI-ètica85

Ethics

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Open access

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Governance

RRI at IDIBELL

The implementation of RRI on the Bellvitge Campus is carried out through the IDIBELL RRI Working Group, made up of various professional profiles from the research management areas. The team plays a fundamental role in integrating RRI with institutional objectives, priorities and strategies, through the review and formulation of policies and practices within the institution.

Once the importance of the transversality of research from the European framework with the Horizon Europe program was pointed out, it was inevitable to begin to propose a strategic approach to align research and innovation with responsibility, ethics and sustainability. Since then, we understand RRI as a philosophy that allows our projects to maintain the main objective of improving people's lives through the generation, development and implementation of new knowledge.

The RRI approach is supported by instruments such as RRI Tools and is committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations, to drive progress in key areas such as the promotion of health and well-being, gender equality, education inclusive and climate action, among others.

The IDIBELL RRI Working Group ensures the implementation of the following measures:

• Integration of RRI into the Institutional Strategy: incorporating RRI into the institutional mission, vision and strategic objectives
• Active participation of different actors: involving different stakeholders (academic community, society, private sector and local government) to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, and to address challenges comprehensively
• Promoting Ethics and Inclusion: establishing ethical policies and practices to ensure integrity in research, as well as promoting diversity and inclusion
• Knowledge Transfer: driving innovation to address specific problems effectively and allow society to benefit from scientific advances
• Education and training of the research community, offering training in RRI so that the approach is not only ideological but also practical.

The successful implementation of RRI on the Bellvitge Campus consolidates the institution's position as an actor committed to building a sustainable and ethical future of research and innovation.

Citizen participation

It promotes the committed participation of different actors in society in the research and innovation process to align the results obtained with the values, needs and expectations of society.

List of actions:
  • Inclusion of patients and patients' relatives in prioritization processes of institutional proposals in collaboration with patient associations and citizen organizations
  • Co-creation sessions with patients (expert patients)
  • Initiatives/activities with citizens: bringing science closer to society
    • Sinergia: open day aimed at all citizens to show the responsible and innovative biomedical research carried out on the Bellvitge Campus
    • Visits to the laboratories: by opening their doors and guiding visitors through the specialized facilities, a space for scientists and society to share and discuss research.
    • Conferences - debates "Research and health: we are close to you", with the support of patient associations, aim to disseminate the projects carried out at IDIBELL and obtain feedback from attendees.
    • Pessics de Ciència: Cycle, with the aim of publicizing the Institute's projects and increasing interest in science among young people.
  • Scientific dissemination: communication campaigns and specific activities to bring science closer to society.

Gender equality

It encourages the consideration of the gender dimension in all stages of research and innovation to improve the quality and social impact of the results. Likewise, it promotes the formation of gender-balanced teams at the different organizational levels of the institution.

List of actions:
  • Existence of the Equality Plan, which promotes a culture of equal opportunities between men and women, non-discrimination based on sex and gender equality.
  • Existence of the IDIBELL Equality Plan Monitoring Committee, which ensures compliance with the plan.
    IDIBELL is part of iCERCA, the institution made up of the different research centers in Catalonia, it has specific and cutting-edge programs to promote women in the scientific field.
  • IDIBELL has been recognized with the European seal “HR Excellence in Research”: implementation of the strategy of excellence in the management of human resources in research
  • Research with a gender perspective: it is encouraged to include the gender perspective in the research project proposals carried out by the Institution, as well as in the configuration of the teams.
  • Membership in the Hipatia Community of Practice (CoP) (working group formed by different CERCA centers to advance equality and diversity management in the sector) and adherence of IDIBELL to the Guide to incorporate the sex and gender perspective in research content
  • Coordination of the GT Perspectiva de Género to advance gender equality in health research institutes accredited by the ISCIII
  • Actions and campaigns on designated dates, such as 11F, 8M or 25N, with activities to give visibility to less represented groups. For example:
    • sLHam scientists on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11F). Women researchers and professionals from the center present their research and scientific work in 5-minute, witty and fun monologues
    • Participation in initiatives such as Conócelas (ASEICA), InspiraSTEAM (Deusto) o 100tifiques (FCRI)

Science education

It seeks to complement and improve the current educational model to train and raise awareness among citizens in the skills and knowledge that allow them to participate in decision-making related to research and innovation.

List of actions:
  • IDIBELL works with educational institutions to stimulate scientific vocations and a critical spirit among secondary and high school students, and to promote an interdisciplinary and participatory approach to science learning. Through its educational projects, it strengthens the skills and curiosity of students in the field of biomedicine, and promotes healthy habits and health awareness. Finally, it also supports teachers to update science education in the classroom. To carry out this task, IDIBELL opens the doors of its facilities to the youngest and also carries out activities in classrooms or cultural and social facilities.
  • Science education activities:
    • Educational Tandem with the Institut Bellvitge. Project that impacts all students of this secondary school to reinforce their skills in health sciences. Science is worked from various disciplines.
    • VacunAcció. Educational project on the human papillomavirus, vaccines and false alarmist information about vaccination.
    • STARS GAME. ERASMUS+ project that has co-created a digital escape room on health research aimed at 1st-year ESO students.
      Papilomattack card game, about the human papillomavirus, the cancers it can cause and how to prevent them.
    • IDIBELL NEXT Program to co-tutor high school research projects.
    • Scientific dissemination:
      • Stand-up Science. Audiovisual scientific dissemination project, aimed at young audiences and starring young researchers from IDIBELL.
      • Talks in schools/institutes by IDIBELL professionals.
      • Carrying out activities at science fairs and festivals.
    • Accompaniment, training and support to the research community by the Scientific Culture Unit

Ethics

It promotes that research and innovation respect fundamental rights to guarantee that the results derived are acceptable and relevant to society.

List of actions:
  • IDIBELL has the figure of the research Ombudsperson. This independent figure ensures the conduct of ethical science and research, following the principles of good scientific practice.
  • The Ombudsperson collaborates with a permanent research integrity and ethics committee (CIR) that complements the actions of the Ombudsperson, giving it the necessary support and reinforcement.
  • To promote the incorporation of ethical standards and good scientific practice into daily practice, IDIBELL has drafted the Guide to Good Practices in Research in Health Sciences available to the scientific community. This guide is referenced by the "ICS Good Practice Guide in Health Sciences Research", and also incorporates the CERCA Code of Conduct.
  • In order to guarantee compliance with the ethical and legislative principles of the research carried out on the Campus, there is the Research Ethics Committee with medicines (CEI/CEIm), the Ethical Committee for Animal Experimentation (CEEA) , and the Biosafety Committee (CBS), which evaluates the research projects in which it proceeds.
    Furthermore, at IDIBELL the Regenerative Medicine Ethics Committee, which has a regional scope, evaluates and reports on stem cell projects.
  • Recently, a procedure has been put in place for the declaration of possible conflicts of interest, which is mandatory for principal investigator staff.
  • Training in Bioethics is carried out for the research community.
  • IDIBELL has a Public Complaints Channel on its website, which allows you to report any action or omission that may constitute violations of EU law.

Open access

Improves the quality of research and innovation by establishing that the results obtained are accessible and transparent; The publications and derived data must be available openly and free of charge, and must also be able to be reused in other research projects.

List of actions:
  • We have a Guide to prepare Data Management Plans (DMP), aimed at researchers, which allows the creation of DMPs that ensure FAIR data management
  • An institutional Data Management Policy has also been developed and we have a Data Protection Officer who offers support and training to researchers.
  • IDIBELL participates in the Open Science Working Group of REGIC (Network of Clinical Research Management Entities), where experiences are shared and resources are created with the aim of promoting open access in research
  • The institute is also a member of the open institutional repositories Dipòsit Digital of the UB (to publish scientific articles) and CORA Dataverse (to publish data sets in FAIR mode and following the EOSC guidelines)
  • All research results are collected and displayed on the Portal de la Recerca de Catalunya (PRC) website.
    We actively participate in Open Access Week, organizing seminars and preparing information materials on open access publishing.
  • The assignment of ORCID codes among researchers is encouraged and facilitated

Governance

It refers to the responsibility of institutions and researchers to implement an organizational structure that takes into account the principles of RRI and promote RRI in all aspects of research.

List of actions:
  • RRI working group: implementation of the RRI culture in the institution
  • Web section dedicated to RRI, with information open to the entire community
  • Organization of the "Coffee between Managers" workshops between the international projects office and the campus managers to promote the dissemination of the RRI culture among the research community.
  • Adherence to the UN Global Compact, to promote the social responsibility of institutions in matters of human rights, labor standards, the environment and anti-corruption.
  • Existence of different committees representing workers that advise and participate in decision-making (Works Council, Committee of Predoctoral Researchers)
  • Participatory governance: IDIBELL has a set of advisory bodies for better decision-making by the governing and management bodies: Board of Trustees, CEIm, Research Committees, External and Internal Scientific Advisory Committees, Equality Committee.
  • Our board of trustees, which is our highest governing body, is made up of a plural and interdisciplinary group of agents; being represented by the public administration, health and education agents (city council, health department, hospitals, university, CERCA).
  • IDIBELL is a CERCA center of the Generalitat de Catalunya
  • Since 2009, IDIBELL has been accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute.
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