Abstract:

The International Network for Responsible Biosciences (INRB) launched in 2023 provides a space for the bioscience community to share knowledge and grow together, using the Responsible Research and Innovation and Open Science framework. It encourages multi-, inter- and trans-disciplinary approaches to solving the modern problems facing research and society. The network is based on experiences of the European project ResBios (see: https://resbios.eu).

The main objectives of the INRB are:
-To collect and disseminate the knowledge gained from projects such as ResBios and European Swafs projects on responsible biosciences.
-To provide the scaffolding required to back institutional changes.
-To promote international and multi-, inter- and trans-disciplinary scientific collaboration.
-To connect European institutes engaged in responsible biosciences with projects worldwide, including North and South America, Africa and Asia.
-To contribute to the development of Horizon Europe programme with particular attention to science and society relation, societal engagement, Open Science, citizen science, multistakeholder engagement and more, with a focus on bioscience.
These activities are supported by a website, online/hybrid activities (newsletter, webinars, and other events), shared resources, and a platform for conversations and collaboration (see: https://members.resbios.eu/members/).

Responsibility in bioscience is seen as a cornerstone of transforming the relationship between science and society. Therefore, a Manifesto [1] for the Transformation of Science-Society Relations is set up and distributed via the International Network for Responsible Biosciences. This Manifesto is one of the end products of the ResBios project (RESponsible research and innovation grounding practices in BIOSciencies), funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 872146.

The ResBios consortium partners who have launched the INRB: University of Rome - Tor Vergata (Italy, Coordinator), Aarhus University (Denmark), Agrobioinstitute (Bulgaria), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientí ficas (Spain), Democritus University of Thrace - Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (Greece), European Science Engagement Association (Germany), Knowledge & Innovation Srls (Italy), University of Lviv - Department of Biochemistry (Ukraine), University of Bremen (Germany), Univerza na Primorsken – Universita del Litorale (Slovenia), Zagreb University - Faculty of Agriculture (Croatia), University of Gdansk (Poland). This Manifesto was drafted by Wiebe Bijker (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and ResBios advisor), Luciano d’Andrea (Knowledge & Innovation Srls) and Daniele Mezzana (University of Rome – Tor Vergata), with the collaboration of the members of ResBios Consortium.
It builds the framework for the INRB activities. Interested researchers are invited to join in our network and to visit our website (see: https://members.resbios.eu/members/).

References:
[1] RESPONSIBLE BIOSCIENCES - A Manifesto for the Transformation of Science-Society Relations, Manifesto https://resbios.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Final-manifesto.pdf
[2] Elster, D., Barendziak, T., Birkholz, J. (2020) Towards a Sustainable and Open Science. Recommendations for Enhancing Responsible Research and Innovation in the Biosciences at the University of Bremen, Aachen, Shaker.

Keywords:

Responsible Research and Innovation, Horizon Europe, structural change, biosciences.