Responsible Innovation with Conscience and Agility (FY2020-)

Program Supervisor

KARASAWA Kaori

Professor, Department of Social Psychology, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, The University of Tokyo

As emerging technologies such as information technologies and biotechnology advance at an accelerating pace, we are faced with a reality in which the relationship between science and technology (S&T), society and people is changing drastically so much so that our way of seeing things is also changing. While S&T has been providing us with new knowledge and benefits that enrich our lives, it also has the potential to make irreversible changes to the history of human progress.

Against this background, "Responsible Innovation with Conscience and Agility (RinCA)" Program was launched in FY2020 in the Research Institute of Science and Technology for Society (RISTEX), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). This is an innovation-orientated R&D program that aims to realize a society that is able to continuously create new values, with S&T harmonizing with humans and with society.

This program addresses ethical, legal, and social implications/issues (ELSI) associated with emerging technologies and attempts to engage in these from the early stages of R&D in prognostic and comprehensive manners. By feeding back knowledge gained from such pursuits promptly to where the emerging technologies are being developed, we aim to develop practical collaborative models of responsible research and innovation (RRI).

The title of this program, "Responsible Innovation with Conscience and Agility" represents our acknowledgment of the importance of being agile and conscientious when engaging in the practice related to ELSI/RRI.

The approaches to ELSI/RRI should not be bound to a way of thinking that presumes technological implementations, nor should it be used to put the brakes on R&D. We believe that ELSI/RRI should function as a navigator in generating innovation and co-creation of future society, and to serve as a driving force to provide a variety of options for the future of humanity. To enable this, we must ask fundamental questions such as why particular S&T is needed and what values it is expected to offer, and to verbalize what are contemplated from multiple perspectives (articulation of discourse). In the practice related to ELSI/RRI, it is essential to work towards co-creating knowledge and values with society as a whole or with diverse stakeholders, through the pursuit of fundamental questions and articulation of discourse.

This program places importance on the diversity of researchers and stakeholders in and outside of Japan, and their interactions. By a dynamic management which organically connect scientific knowledge from academic research, practical knowledge from the sites of social engagement and humanities knowledge about the relationship between humans and societies, we attempt to build a platform for the promotion of ELSI/RRI related to various S&T.

Goal of the R&D Program

The program promotes the development of practical collaborative models for identifying/ forecasting ethical, legal, and social implications/issues (ELSI) of emerging technologies and advancing responsible research and innovation (RRI), with the aim of realizing a society that is able to continuously create new values while achieving harmony between S&T and people/society.

Subjects of R&D

The program encourages R&D which engage in ELSI/RRI from the early stages of R&D of emerging S&T in prognostic and comprehensive manners, in order to achieve expansion and establishment of prompt response to ELSI of emerging S&T and RRI.

R&D projects are expected to start examining issues arising at the nexus between S&T and people/society that Japanese society is facing, or specific emerging technologies, and to engage in ELSI/RRI by organizing a research structure in which expertise of researchers and knowledge from stakeholders are brought together.

Expected outputs

  • Creation of tangible responses to ELSI that take into account the nature of S&T
  • Mechanisms and methodologies for providing feedback from ELSI perspectives in an agile manner from early stages of R&D
  • Method for improving functions and designs of science and technology communication
  • Case analysis of trans-science issues and archive-based recommendations for the future
  • Presentation of visions of society that are to be realized by the research/innovation, based on the exploration and consideration of fundamental questions

Engagement in ELSI/RRI is not limited to responses and adaptations to S&T issues in the here and now. In addition to examining influences that transcend generations and space, such efforts inevitably encompass fundamental questions relating to the universally recognized values and improvement of life, people and society. The program challenges to present a vision of society that is to be realized by the research/innovation by incorporating consideration of such fundamental questions. While taking into account the local contexts and characteristics of Japanese society, it attempts to extract more universal values shareable with the global society, and challenges to verbalize/represent such values.

R&D Projects

FY2023

Transdisciplinary Study on the ELSI of Building Intimate Relationship between Humans and "Co-Habitant" Robots
INATANI Tatsuhiko
(Professor, Graduate School of Law, Kyoto University)
2023.10-2027.3
Addressing ELSI and governance with patient and public involvement regarding research on human stem cell-derived germ cells
KATO Kazuto
(Professor, Department of Biomedical Ethics and Public Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University)
2023.10-2026.3
ELSI study on utilizing reverse translational research to establish sustainable innovation in regenerative medicine
YASHIRO Yoshimi, Ph.D.
(Director, The Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine)
2023.10-2027.3

FY2022

Experimental ELSI Research Toward the Future of Brain Modifications
OTA Koji
(Associate Professor, Faculty of Humanities, Niigata University)
2022.10-2026.3
Practice on ELSI/RRI of Educational Technology Using Student Educational Data
KANO Kei
(Professor, Faculty of Education, Shiga University)
2022.10-2026.3
Historical Analysis of ELSI in Medicine and Healthcare based on the Construction of the Archives
GOTO Motoyuki
(Associate Professor, Graduate School of Core Ethics and Frontier Sciences, Ritsumeikan University)
2022.10-2026.3
Building Legal Policy to Close ELSI Lag for Fair Use of Gene Information
SETOYAMA Koichi
(Professor, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine)
2022.10-2026.3
Practical Examination of ELSI on Smartization of Community Through Four-dimensional Co-creation
DEGUCHI Yasuo
(Professor, Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University)
2022.10-2026.3
ELSI on the Clinical Research for Treating the Fetal-maternal Complex
MATSUI Kenji
(Division Chair, Division of Bioethics and Healthcare Law, Institute for Cancer Control, National Cancer Center Japan)
2022.10-2026.3

FY2021

Autonomy and Affinity in AI Development and Use
USAMI Makoto
(Professor, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University)
2021.10-2025.3
Comprehensive Research of the Ethical, Legal and Social Issues as Prerequisites for the Social Acceptance of Urban Air Mobility
KOJIMA Ryu
(Professor, Faculty of Law, Kyushu University)
2021.10-2025.3
Archiving the Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Pandemic Responses towards Building an Infectious-Disease-Resilient Society
KODAMA Satoshi (R&D related to COVID-19)
(Professor, Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University)
2021.10-2025.3
Development of an RRI Practice Model for Molecular Robotics Premised on Researchers Autonomy
KOMIYA Ken
(Researcher, Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-star), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Scence and Technology (JAMSTEC))
2021.10-2025.3
Examination of ELSI/RRI in relation to Cellular Agriculture Technologies for Sustainability Transitions
HIBINO Aiko
(Professor, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hirosaki University)
2021.10-2025.3

FY2020

Establishing ELSI for strategies of developing and promoting decarbonization technologies in Japan
EMORI Seita
(Senior Principal Researcher, Earth System Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies / Professor, Institute for Future Initiatives, the University of Tokyo)
2020.9-2024.3
Implementation and systematization of RRI assessment model on emerging science and technology
SHINEHA Ryuma
(Associate Professor, Research Center on Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSI), Osaka University)
2020.9-2024.3
The construction of ELSI and intervention of expert knowledge in the contemporary media environment (R&D related to COVID-19)
TANAKA Mikihito
(Professor, Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University)
2020.9-2024.3
Building the method for social implementation of automated driving technology complying with actual state based on ELSI
NAKANO Kimihiko
(Professor, Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo)
2020.9-2024.3
A Comprehensive Study of Infectious Disease Control Using Mobile Phone-Related Technologies (R&D related to COVID-19)
YONEMURA Shigeto
(Professor, Graduate Schools for Law and Politics,The University of Tokyo)
2020.9-2024.3
Overcoming Vulnerability and Restoring Social Justice in Community and Re-designing Cities by Introducing Social Distancing Principle (R&D related to COVID-19)
HAYASHI Yoshitsugu
(Distinguished Professor, Center for Sustainable Development and Global Smart Cities, Chubu University)
2020.9-2022.3

*In case that the dissemination and establishment of the R&D results are expected to be further developed, following the evaluation, the R&D period can be extended for up to 2 years.

Feasibility Study

FY2022

Feasibility Study on Building a Foundation for ELSI/RRI Study on Implantable Body Function Complementation Technology
ONUMA Masaya
(Associate Professor, Graduate School of International Social Sciences, Yokohama National University)
2022.10-2023.3
Preliminary study for Exploring Legislative Approach in ELSI Research
SASAOKA Manami
(Associate Professor, Graduate School of International Social Sciences, Yokohama National University)
2022.10-2023.3
Feasible Study on ELSI Considerations of FemTech
SHINEHA Seiko
(Associate Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Jissen Women's University)
2022.10-2023.3
Feasibility Study on ELSI of Metaverse and Well-being Service
NAGAI Yukari
(Trustee, Vice-President, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
2022.10-2023.3

FY2021

Feasibility Study for SF Prototyping to Promote Responsible Research and Innovation
OSAWA Hirotaka
(Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Information and Systems, University of Tsukuba)
2021.10-2022.3
Ethical Issues of Novel Trans-boundary Cases in Neurotechnology: Exploring the Cognitive Dynamics
OTA Koji
(Associate Professor, Faculty of Humanities, Niigata University)
2021.10-2022.3
ELSI of Educational Technology using Student Learning Data
KANO Kei
(Professor, Graduate School of Education, Shiga University)
2021.10-2022.3
A Planning of Research for Holistic and Specific ELSI of 'Smart City'
DEGUCHI Yasuo
(Professor, The Department of Philosophy, Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University)
2021.10-2022.3
Mapping field of Ethical, Legal and Social Implications in Technologies Manipulating Human Decision Making
NAKAZAWA Eisuke
(Lecturer, Department of Biomedical Ethics, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo)
2021.10-2022.3
Study on Social Acceptability of Polygenic Score
YAMAMOTO Natsuko
(Specially-Appointed Associate Professor, Institute for Datability Science, Osaka University)
2021.10-2022.3

FY2020

Preliminary study for designing of system and outreach activities by research community for building trust in human derived data flow
AKETANI Saeko
(Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo)
2020.9-2021.3
Basic Research on Solving the Social Challenges in the Implementation of “Flying Cars”
KOJIMA Ryu
(Professor, Graduate School of Law, Kyushu University)
2020.9-2021.3
Archiving the Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues in Pandemic Responses: An International and Historical Approach (R&D related to COVID-19)
KODAMA Satoshi
(Associate Professor, Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University)
2020.9-2021.3
Research of Policy History on Trans-Scientific Issues in Medicine and Guidelines for Medical Record Practice
GOTO Motoyuki
(Lecturer, Graduate School of Core Ethics and Frontier Sciences, Ritsumeikan University)
2020.9-2021.3
Planning Research on the Practice of RRI Communication for implementation of Molecular Robotics to the Society
KOMIYA Ken
(Assistant Professor, School of Computing, Tokyo Institute of Technology)
2020.9-2021.3
Planning Survey for Building Age-Friendly Cities through the Region-Oriented Living Lab.
SHIMA Keisuke
(Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University )
2020.9-2021.3
Visualization of the social impacts of science and technology by using systems design approach for building co-creation systems
SHIRABE Masashi
(Professor, Institute for Liberal Arts, Tokyo Institute of Technology )
2020.9-2021.3
Interdisciplinary Research on Present Legal Policies Against Genetic Discrimination to Establish Legislation
SETOYAMA Koichi
(Professor, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine)
2020.9-2021.3
Feasibility study toward establishing a platform for analyzing and debating the ethical implications of the creation of artificial agents
TAGUCHI Shigeru
(Professor, Faculty of Humanities and Human Sciences / Director, Center for Human Nature, Artificial Intelligence, and Neuroscience, Hokkaido University)
2020.9-2021.3
Dynamism of social values, policies, and ethics concerning cell agriculture technology
HIBINO Aiko
(Associate Professor, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hirosaki University)
2020.9-2021.3
Understanding the Methods and Impacts of Social Experimentalization in the “Experimental Society”
MIKAMI Koichi
(Lecturer, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University)
2020.9-2021.3
Analysis of the Ethics of Life and Death based on the “Technological Contructionism”, and Promotion of Social Discussion
WATANABE Maiko
(Lecturer, School of Medicine, Jichi Medical University)
2020.9-2021.3

*Feasibility Studies is not independent investigation activities and the like, but it is expected to lead to the proposal and implementation of R&D projects under the Program in the future. The framework has been planned to address R&D design and serve as a complement to structures necessary to achieve this. Accordingly, in principle, submitting a proposal to the next call for proposals of the Program is a condition.

Management Group

Program Supervisor

KARASAWA Kaori Professor, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, The University of Tokyo

Advisors

OHYA Takehiro Professor, Faculty of Law, Keio University
SHINOMIYA Nariyoshi President, National Defense Medical College
NAKAGAWA Hiroshi Team leader, Artificial Intelligence in Society Research Group, Center for Advanced Intelligence Project, RIKEN
NISHIKAWA Shintaro Member of the Board of Directors, GLOCALINK Inc. / Director, D-LAB, Japan Tobacco Inc.
NOTOMI Noburu Professor, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, The University of Tokyo
NOGUCHI Kazuhiko Visiting Professor, IAS Center for Creation of Symbiosis Society with Risk, YOKOHAMA National University
HARAYAMA Yuko Emeritus Professor, Tohoku University
MIZUNO Tasuku Lawyer, CITY LIGHTS LAW / Visiting Professor, Global Innovation Center, Kyushu University
YAMAGUCHI Tomiko Professor, College of Liberal Arts, International Christian University

Promotion Advisor

FUJIYAMA Tomohiko Principal Fellow, Center for Research and Development Strategy, JST / Former Senior Vice President, former director of Institute of international strategic studies, Mitsubishi Co. Ltd.
TODAYAMA Kazuhisa Specially Appointed Professor, National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education
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