The SeeRRI process model of responsible regional planning describes the step-by-step process that SeeRRI recommends regional planners use to integrate Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) principles into their regional planning processes. The RRI principles are inclusiveness, anticipation, reflexivity, and responsiveness.

In a nutshell, the process comprises three stages, each of which is to be carried out by regional planners in close cooperation with local stakeholders. First, a core challenge for the region is defined. Second, foresight methodology is used to map out possible future scenarios for the region, and a regional strategy is created through a shared agenda. Third, the regional government implements the strategy in cooperation with relevant stakeholders. The process is repeated as necessary in response to changing regional conditions.

Let us take a closer look at each stage of the model. First, the regional government defines a core regional challenge that reflects the vital interests and concerns of the community. This focus on a specific challenge serves to reduce the complexity of the planning process and make it more manageable for the stakeholders who will be involved in the next step. Mapping exercises help to identify networks of innovators and RRI activities in the regional innovation ecosystem. An RRI guiding framework will be established to address the challenge.

At the second stage, foresight workshops are organized at which key stakeholders from the region are invited to participate. In accordance with the RRI principle of inclusiveness and to ensure a balanced representation of social interests, the entire “quadruple helix” of government, academia, industry, and civil society must be represented. At the workshops, the invited stakeholders work together to envision possible future scenarios for the region and suggest measures the region can take today to put itself on a trajectory towards a desirable future. A shared vision and agenda are created together by everyone. The regional government synthesizes the outputs from the workshops to produce a coherent regional strategy.

Finally, at the third stage, the strategy is co-implemented by the regional government and relevant stakeholders, and the change impact is evaluated. The experiences and lessons learned from the co-creation process are shared and exchanged with other regions interested in the SeeRRI approach through a series of transnational learning workshops and seminars. When, in response to changing regional conditions, a new challenge is identified, the process starts over again.

The stylized three-stage model described above looks simple because it condenses many complex activities into a few distinct points. In practice, the process of integrating RRI principles into regional planning involves several parallel lines of activity. SeeRRI partners have fleshed out the stylized SeeRRI model to create an “implementation pathway” describing the steps and their interrelationships in greater detail. The figure below illustrates the SeeRRI implementation pathway. Note that as you move through the figure from top to bottom, the implementation pathway covers the same three stages (co-define, co-design, co-implement) as captured by the stylized SeeRRI model. The key difference is that the implementation pathway distinguishes between several parallel streams of activity.

The “Mapping” line L1 serves to uncover key information about the regional innovation ecosystem, including existing R&I activities, key R&I actors, and the current rate of adoption of RRI principles in R&I activities and regional development policies. The “Co-creation” line L2 directly involves regional stakeholders in a collaborative effort to define and implement a strategy for the region. All of these activities are monitored and evaluated by the “Co-governance” line L3 to make sure the SeeRRI implementation pathway is a learning system.

Before delving into the details of each line, we want to emphasize the importance of pathway facilitators. In general, any process of participation and co-creation requires a facilitator (or facilitating team) to create a context for inclusive and creative participation as well as an overarching sequence of activities in which participants can contribute towards a common goal. Consequently, facilitation is not about designing a single workshop (session) of co-creation; it is about designing the whole process (implementation pathway). The pathway facilitators can be considered “implementation pathway train conductors” who are involved in all three lines. They should be highly familiar with the characteristics of the territory and be well connected to regional key actors. Therefore, this facilitating team can play the role of territorial experts in line 1 and line 2; the facilitating role in line 2; and the guidance team role in line 3. This is how they can facilitate collaboration across all three lines and ensure successful implementation. In SeeRRI, we organize training workshops for local RRI facilitators to provide them with solid knowledge of the RRI approach and principles so that they are equipped to facilitate the group decision-making process.

This is only a brief introduction to the SeeRRI implementation pathway. Please click on each station of each line to explore the details!

The content of the SeeRRI implementation pathway is the outcome of a co-creative effort by the pathway taskforce, which includes Nhien Nguyen, Ángel Honrado, Andrea Kasztler, Angela Santangelo, Jens Ørding Hansen, Xavier Ariño, Carlos Alvarez Pereira, Alan Hartman, Marianne Hörlesberger, Júlia Prat, and Mario Magaña. We also acknowledge the contribution of Martina Neuländtner in providing content for Line 1, and Tatiana Fernández for inspiring radical collaboration when developing the shared agenda approach in Line 2.

Special credit to Nhien Nguyen and Ángel Honrado for facilitating the work process and finalizing the structure; Mario Magaña for designing the graphics; Manuel Abarca for programming; and Nhien Nguyen and Jens Ørding Hansen for editing and proofreading the overall content.

On behalf of the SeeRRI implementation pathway taskforce,
Nhien Nguyen, Ángel Honrado, Jens Ørding Hansen, and Mario Magaña