Responsible Innovation and the Innovation of Responsibility: Governing Sustainable Development in a Globalized World

Journal of Business Ethics, 143 (2017), pp. 227–243, DOI 10.1007/s10551-015-2769-z

48 Pages Posted: 16 Jan 2016 Last revised: 16 Jun 2017

See all articles by Christian Voegtlin

Christian Voegtlin

ZHAW School of Management and Law; University of Zurich - Department of Business Administration; University of Zurich - Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Information Technology

Andreas Georg Scherer

University of Zurich - IBW Department of Business Administration

Abstract

Earth's life support system is facing mega-problems of sustainability. One important way of how these problems can be addressed is through innovation. This paper argues that responsible innovation that contributes to sustainable development consists of three dimensions:

(1) innovations avoid harming people and the planet,

(2) innovations 'do good' by offering new products, services or technologies that foster sustainable development, and

(3) global governance schemes are in place that facilitate innovations that avoid harm and 'do good'.

The paper discusses global governance schemes based on deliberation as a means to foster such responsible innovation. These schemes can provide voluntary soft-law regulations that complement and extend national and international hard-law regulations and facilitate collective innovation that contributes to sustainable development goals. The article addresses the facilitative role of governments and international organizations in overcoming problems of deliberation and offers illustrative examples of such governance schemes.

Keywords: responsible innovation, global governance, globalization, political CSR, sustainable development

Suggested Citation

Voegtlin, Christian and Scherer, Andreas Georg, Responsible Innovation and the Innovation of Responsibility: Governing Sustainable Development in a Globalized World. Journal of Business Ethics, 143 (2017), pp. 227–243, DOI 10.1007/s10551-015-2769-z , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2716152

Christian Voegtlin (Contact Author)

ZHAW School of Management and Law ( email )

St.-Georgen-Platz 2
Winterthur, 8401
Switzerland

University of Zurich - Department of Business Administration ( email )

Universitätsstr. 84
CH-8006 Zürich, 8006
Switzerland

University of Zurich - Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Information Technology ( email )

Plattenstrasse 14
Zürich, 8032
Switzerland

Andreas Georg Scherer

University of Zurich - IBW Department of Business Administration ( email )

Plattenstrasse 14
Zurich, 8032
Switzerland
+41 44-63 45302 (Phone)
+41 44-63 45301 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.business.uzh.ch/professorships/as.html

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