Implementing Responsible Research and Innovation Practices in SMEs: Insights into Drivers and Barriers from the Austrian Medical Device Sector
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Background
2.1. Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)
2.2. Responsible Research and Innovation in Business
2.3. Insights from Sustainability Innovation and Eco-Innovation
3. Medical Device Innovation and the Empirical Setting
4. Methods
4.1. Selection of Interview Partners
- Small or medium sized enterprise (i.e., less than 250 employees);
- Flagged as research, development and manufacturing companies for medical devices;
- In-house research, development or innovation activities (i.e., these activities are not being outsourced to labs, universities or other facilities);
- Research, development or innovation activities take place in Austrian locations (and not, for example, in subsidiaries outside of Austria);
- Currently pursuing research, development or innovation activities.
4.2. Collection and Analysis of Information
5. Findings
5.1. Motivations for Research and Innovation Activities
5.2. Perceptions of Responsibility
5.3. Factors Driving or Impeding Research and Innovation
5.3.1. Regulatory Framework
5.3.2. Funding
5.3.3. Market Orientation
5.3.4. Customer Knowledge
5.3.5. Management and Organizational Structures
5.3.6. External Knowledge from Collaborations and Networks
5.4. Potential Drivers for and Barriers to the Implementation of RRI
5.4.1. Regulatory Framework
5.4.2. Funding and Financing
5.4.3. Market Orientation
5.4.4. Customer Knowledge
5.4.5. Management and Organizational Structures
5.4.6. External Knowledge from Collaborations and Networks
6. Discussion of Findings
6.1. Practicability of the RRI Concept
6.2. Profit-Oriented versus Moral Motivations to Engage with RRI
6.3. Potential Driving and Impeding Factors for the Implementation of RRI
6.4. Limitations and Further Research
Acknowledgments
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Factor Categories | Drivers Supporting Innovation | Barriers Obstructing Innovation |
---|---|---|
Regulatory framework |
|
|
Funding and finance |
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|
Market orientation |
| |
Customer knowledge |
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|
Management and organizational structures |
|
|
External knowledge from collaborations and networks |
|
|
Factor Categories | Drivers Supporting Implementation of RRI | Barriers Obstructing Implementation of RRI |
---|---|---|
Regulatory framework |
|
|
Funding and finance |
|
|
Market orientation |
|
|
Customer knowledge |
|
|
Management and organizational structures |
|
|
External knowledge from collaborations and networks |
|
|
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Auer, A.; Jarmai, K. Implementing Responsible Research and Innovation Practices in SMEs: Insights into Drivers and Barriers from the Austrian Medical Device Sector. Sustainability 2018, 10, 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10010017
Auer A, Jarmai K. Implementing Responsible Research and Innovation Practices in SMEs: Insights into Drivers and Barriers from the Austrian Medical Device Sector. Sustainability. 2018; 10(1):17. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10010017
Chicago/Turabian StyleAuer, Alexander, and Katharina Jarmai. 2018. "Implementing Responsible Research and Innovation Practices in SMEs: Insights into Drivers and Barriers from the Austrian Medical Device Sector" Sustainability 10, no. 1: 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10010017