Sci-tech and ethics team up globally New approaches to encouraging and exploiting innovation can help emerging and developing countries enhance the position of science and technology research (STR) in a social context. Industrial Technologies © Thinkstock STR has produced great practical results, but all this research often remains at the periphery of economic and social development. Experts have struggled to define the socialisation of STR and how embedded it is in society, claiming that modern societies are failing to keep pace with advances in research. In this context, the EU-funded project 'Science, ethics and technological responsibility in developing and emerging countries' (SET-DEV) helped India and Kenya enhance STR in society and promote its socialisation. The project team addressed ethics and other issues influencing the relationship between science and society, aiming to encourage different social actors to advance STR. To achieve its aims, SET-DEV raised awareness on critical issues in these two key fields and fostered dialogue among scientists worldwide. It enhanced the socialisation of research and helped build the capabilities of institutions in relevant respects. In addition, team members articulated measures and guidelines that consider local values and needs. They defined the socialisation of S&T taking into account the maturity of local research systems. This was achieved by mapping STR in India and Kenya thoroughly, in addition to conducting pilot programmes that focus on public dialogue and capacity building in this respect. A key issue examined was the legal aspects of technology, such as the relationship between privacy and the Internet. Other major issues that the project team investigated include scientific and social communication among researchers and between actors. The evaluation of S&T, linked with accountability in the world of research, was also seen as a crucial topic for furthering scientific productivity. In parallel, the team studied innovation processes with respect to how STR results are being used to foster social and economic development. The governance of S&T is also important to STR socialisation, as is gender balance that fosters equality among men and women working and producing in this field. After documenting good practices and detailing its guidelines, SET-DEV produced its African and Indian manifestos, calling for stronger contextualisation of science, technology and innovation. The manifestos also underlined the need for more participatory management of policies and projects in this field. Written from the perspective of citizens, these manifestos are about innovation rooted in communities. They address the dimensions of justice, sustainability and plurality in S&T, ultimately supporting citizens, students, scholars and policymakers in embracing and exploiting the best of these fields
