Research institutions do not exist in isolation, but interact with many other stakeholders in society, including policymakers, the media, economy, public engagement and civil society. Like the individual cells of a larger organism, each stakeholder group in society has unique specialisations and goals, but can have productive interactions with the other “cells” that enable them to address more complex challenges and tasks together.

The project addresses how RRI can be implemented by the “nucleus” of a university or research institution; the governance that directs the policy and culture of an organisation. By developing the “DNA” for practical implementation of RRI, the project will contribute strategies that have been tested, demonstrated, and refined by an international network of partners.

The NUCLEUS project has a four-year timeline that covers two stages: the development of an Implementation Roadmap for Responsible Research and Innovation, and an evaluation of the RRI Roadmap’s performance in practice. Throughout the timeline of the project, NUCLEUS will invite discussion and reflection at annual conferences. By building a network of allied stakeholders engaged in ongoing reflection of RRI implementation, NUCLEUS will foster a deeper understanding of the practical implementation of RRI, throughout and beyond the project’s timeline.