In this context, the FP7-funded RRI Tools project (2014-2016) is implemented with the objective to deliver a participatory set of digital resources - ‘the RRI Toolkit’ - to advocate, train, disseminate and implement RRI. So far, the project has gathered a wealth of online resources from all over Europe and developed new ones – the RRI Toolkit – to help stakeholders (researchers, policy-makers, business and industry, educators and civil society organizations) across Europe - including South East Europe, to put Responsible Research and Innovation into practice. The RRI Toolkit is online since March 2016. Collaborating with all stakeholders, the project ultimately aims at creating a Community of Practice in Europe, which will ensure the use, evolution and enrichment of the Toolkit. RRI Tools is being carried out by a consortium of 26 partners extending across 30 countries of the European Research Area, and is coordinated by "La Caixa" Foundation (Spain).

Responsible Research and Innovation in South East Europe

The Center for the Promotion of Science (CPN) from Belgrade, Serbia acts as the Southeast (SEE) Hub Coordinator in Serbia, Croatia, Albania, Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina. 

RRI Tools project tackles many societal challenges relevant to the WBC region, such as public heath, demographic changes and migrations, pollution and resources depletion, transport sustainability, environment protection, ethical questions, etc. The main aim of the SEE Hub activities is to create a community of practice on national and regional level that brings together individuals and organisations active in science and innovation process. CPN is heading towards this goal by providing networking opportunities for all interested stakeholders, in collaboration with many institutions and organisations from the WBC region.

In that respect, as a Hub coordinator, CPN is organizing numerous advocacy meetings and various events (trainings, workshops, panels, etc.) on RRI concept and RRI Tools project, with special reference to RRI Toolkit - a wealth of online resources that should help all stakeholders across Europe to put Responsible Research and Innovation into practice.

Activities of SEE Hub

Shortly after the launch of the RRI Toolkit, CPN organized the event “What is the RRI Toolkit?” on 25^th March 2016 in Belgrade, with the aim to gain a deeper insight into the needs and expectations of all stakeholders. Representatives of all stakeholder groups were present at the meeting, some of them being at the highest national level (e.g. State Secretariat for Public Policy and State Secretary of Ministry of Regional Development and Local Self-Government).

The goal of the event was to present the key elements of RRI, RRI Tools project and the Toolkit and ask for a feedback in terms of possible opportunities, barriers and shortcomings perceived. The outcomes of the discussion were of a great value and will serve as a guideline for dissemination & trainings strategy in the following period.

The first regional RRI Tools training “RRI Tools - How to Align Scientific Research with the Needs of Society? will take place in Rijeka, Croatia, on May 19, 2016, as part of International conference on Excellence Creativity & Innovation in Basic and Higher Education, organized by the International Centre for Innovation in Education (ICIE). The aim of this RRI Tools workshop will be to highlight the importance of science communication within science and education communities and offer some practical tools and guidelines on how to implement concepts of RRI in science education in schools, with special reference to the RRI Toolkit.

To stay up-to-date with the RRI Toolkit, please register to the RRI Tools newsletter: http://www.rri-tools.eu/register and follow RRI Tools on

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RRI.Tools.Project and https://www.facebook.com/centarzapromocijunauke/

• Twitter: http://twitter.com/RRITools and https://twitter.com/CPNSrbija

• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/RRI-Tools-Fostering-ResponsibleResearch-8111498

* Information on Southeastern RRI Hub and its activities was kindly provided to WBC-RTI.info by Ivana Horvat (ihorvat@cpn.rs) who works on RRI Tools at the Center for the Promotion of Science (Serbia), the RRI Tools Hub coordinator for South-East Europe.#

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