Common Good in Innovation: A New Paradigm for Sustainability and Social Justice

Common Good in Innovation: A New Paradigm for Sustainability and Social Justice

In an era marked by unprecedented global challenges such as climate change, economic disparity, and health crises, the importance of integrating sustainability and the common good into public policies and funding for research and innovation becomes increasingly crucial. The document "Implementing sustainability and common good in innovation promotion" is a milestone in exploring how these objectives can be effectively incorporated into the core of innovation strategies.

An Integrated Model of Innovation and Common Good

The document proposes an innovative model that connects public funding for research and technology with the principles of sustainability and the common good. This model not only aims to realign financial priorities but also provides an operational framework for public stakeholders involved in the funding of innovation. This approach is essential to ensure that technological and scientific advancements are not just isolated developments but genuinely serve to promote collective well-being and improve the quality of life in society.

Defining the Common Good in the Context of Innovation

The "common good" in the document is interpreted through the lens of sustainability and social innovation, emphasizing how practices and policies must balance and integrate economic, social, and ecological objectives. The holistic approach adopted in the document values human dignity, solidarity, justice, and transparency, which are fundamental elements for a fair and sustainable society.

The Common Good Matrix: A Tool for Assessment and Planning

One of the theoretical tools introduced is the "common good matrix," which serves to categorize and assess concepts of sustainability and the common good within the context of research and innovation policy. The matrix is structured around five main dimensions:

1. Human Dignity: emphasizing the respect for fundamental rights of the individual, both in the workplace and in the broader social context.
2. Solidarity and Justice: promoting equity and cooperation, this dimension seeks to ensure that all individuals equitably benefit from the fruits of innovation.
3. Ecological Sustainability: this section highlights the importance of managing resources so that they are preserved for future generations.
4. Transparency and Co-decision: this dimension encourages open and participatory governance, allowing all stakeholders to have a say in decisions.
5. Assessment of Interactions: examines how organizations interact with various stakeholders concerning dignity, solidarity, environmental impacts, and transparency.

Future Implications and Adoption of the Model

Looking ahead, adopting this model requires a significant change in current mindsets and policies. Entities that fund research and innovation need to reconsider their evaluation criteria and definitions of success, focusing not only on efficiency and profit but also on the social and environmental impact of innovations. The document provides exemplary cases and case studies that demonstrate how such integration can be realized in practice, suggesting that such an approach can be replicated and adapted in various national and international contexts.

Common good and data economy

In an era in which data is increasingly important, it is useful to take the "THE FUTURE DATA ECONOMY - COMPETITIVE, FAIR, SAFE" document as a present reference. The concept of "common good" is addressed by focusing on the need for a fair, competitive and secure data economy, which aims to maximize the benefits for the whole society while ensuring the protection of individual data. Here are the main points in which the common good is expressly discussed:

1. Public-Private Collaboration: Effective collaboration between the public and private sectors is critical to ensuring that data is used to benefit the common good. This includes the development of public digital infrastructures that facilitate access and management of data in a secure and transparent way.
2. Equity in the Data Economy: to ensure a fair distribution of the value generated by data, strategies that consider the needs of all stakeholders are needed. The document proposes to address the inequalities present in data markets, promoting a fairer distribution of the risks and benefits arising from the use of data.
3. Data Governance and Social Trust: To protect the common good, it is necessary to create robust and reliable data governance that can guarantee security and privacy, rebuilding public trust in the entities that manage data. This point is crucial for gaining community support and for the success of data economy policies.
4. Development of Inclusive Strategies: To ensure that the benefits of technological progress are shared by all, strategies are needed that include the entire society in the process of developing the data economy. This implies a collective commitment and the need to go beyond simple government regulation to create a real digital social contract that involves all levels of society.

These points highlight how the "THE FUTURE DATA ECONOMY - COMPETITIVE, FAIR, SAFE" document proposes an approach to data management that goes beyond mere economic gain, seeking to harmonize commercial interests with those of society as a whole, promoting a use of data that respects and enhances the asset common.

Common Good and Innovation Management

In the document "UNI/PdR 155:2023" - Sustainable innovation management - Guidelines for managing sustainable innovation processes in companies through open innovation - a reference practice for managing innovation in SMEs through open innovation, the "common good" is defined as an entity, tangible or intangible, that acquires, generates, or redistributes value within the community and environment where it resides, according to principles of ethics, justice, interest, general well-being, and #antifragility.

common good: Entity, either tangible or intangible, that acquires, generates or redistributes value within the community and its environment according to principles of ethics, justice, interest, overall welfare and antifragility.        

NOTE 1 Entities can be tangible/material (e.g., a building, square, infrastructure, natural resource, etc.) or intangible/immaterial (e.g., culture, art, data, digitized cultural heritage, climate, etc.).        

NOTE 2 The common good is usually traceable to the historical, cultural and social heritage of the community to which it relates, and derives from the contributions of people and the natural environment and their connections and interactions.        

NOTE 3 Conservation of the common good(s) should be considered a key element of sustainable development, including for the benefit of future generations.        

This definition emphasizes the importance of interactions and contributions from people and the natural environment, as well as the need to preserve the common good for sustainable development and the benefit of future generations.

The link between the common good and innovation management is closely intertwined with the concept of sustainable innovation, which the document proposes to implement through an open innovation model. Sustainable innovation management, as described in the document, includes a process of sharing information and knowledge beyond the organization's boundaries, aiming to develop solutions that not only meet the organization's immediate needs but are also beneficial for the environment and society at large. This approach is reflected in the organization's intent for sustainable innovation, which should consider the social, economic, and environmental impact of the pursued solutions.

The approach proposed in UNI/PdR 155:2023 aims to create, therefore, a more sustainable production system from an environmental, social and economic point of view in which advanced technologies are used to encourage more efficient production with low environmental impact, placing the well-being of people is at the centre. At the basis of this approach are the standards of the ISO 56000 series, in particular the guideline for the implementation and continuous improvement of an innovation management system (ISO 56002), that for the management of intellectual property (ISO 56005), strategic intelligence (ISO 56006) and that dedicated to the management of ideas and opportunities (ISO 56007).

The document underscores the importance of an organizational culture that promotes sustainability and antifragility, conscious leadership, active participation from people, and ethical use of technologies. These elements are crucial to ensure that the sustainable innovation process generates shared value, respects sustainability principles, and contributes to the common good, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other relevant global standards.

Conclusion

Both documents, "Implementing sustainability and common good in innovation promotion" and "UNI/PdR 155:2023", outline a revolutionary approach to innovation management, emphasizing how the integration of sustainability and common good principles not only enriches the innovative process but significantly contributes to social and ecological progress.

This new vision requires a profound revision of current funding practices and public policies, proposing a paradigm where innovation is no longer just a means for technological progress but becomes a catalyst for the overall well-being of society. Integrating this model into decision-making processes can not only transform the field of innovation but can also make it a driver for equitable and sustainable progress, ensuring that future generations inherit a fairer and more sustainable world.

by Oliviero Casale , General Manager of UniProfessioni