The project “Public Participation in Developing a Common Framework for Assessment and Management of Sustainable Innovation” (CASI) has been proposed as a response to one of the Grand Societal Challenges set out in the Horizon 2020 programme of the European Union, namely “Climate action, resource efficiency and raw materials”.

The main aim of the project is to develop a methodological framework for assessing sustainable innovation and managing multi-disciplinary solutions through public engagement in the RTDI system by ensuring the commitment of a broad spectrum of societal stakeholders into its implementation, including industry, policy-makers, research organisations and academia, civil society organisations and the general public.

CASI is based on the understanding of innovation as a key driver of societal progress in the age of technology and imminent uncertainties about the future. Sustainable innovation, on the other hand, further enhances this understanding by introducing sustainability as a focal core of the innovation process. At the same time, this is not an attempt to introduce yet another distinctive type of innovation. Rather, CASI will foster debate on conceptual dimensions, policy boundaries, and good practices combining innovative pursuits with sustainability objectives.

In achievement of the overall aim of the initiative, the specific objectives include the development of:

- a working definition of sustainable innovation, building on common definitions, academic literature as well as expert advice internal and external to the project consortium;

- ways to include general public concerns in assessing the social impact of these innovations on society in consultation workshops. Issues such as participation in the development of innovation, inclusiveness, ethics, gender and open access will be considered in these sessions;

- a common understanding of best practices in sustainable innovation management;

- a framework for assessment and management of sustainable innovations;

- specific policy recommendations on how to improve innovation management and how sustainability considerations can be incorporated into it based on the findings of the assessment framework and public consultations.

The project is funded under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) of the European Union and will run for 42 months, from January 2014 until June 2017.

CASI includes 19 partner organisations from 12 countries in the European Union, and relies on an extended network of national experts in the remaining 16 countries not represented in the consortium in order to ensure coverage and inquiry in every EU member state.

CASI is coordinated by the Applied Research and Communications Fund (ARC Fund). The list of project partners also includes:

Coventry University Enterprises Limited, UK

Danish Board of Technology Foundation, Denmark

National Consumer Research Centre, Finland

Technical University of Dortmund, Germany

University of Primorska, Slovenia

Poznan Science and Technology Park of Adam Mickiewicz University Foundation, Poland

INOVAMAIS , Portugal

META Group, Italy

Increase Time, Portugal

Municipality of Monza, Italy

Espinho City Council, Portugal

Centre for Social Innovation, Austria

Interuniversity Research Centre for Public Services, University of Milano, Italy

Cleantech Bulgaria Foundation, Bulgaria

Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, University of Manchester, UK

Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium

TechnoLogica EAD, Bulgaria

Futures Diamond, Czech Republic

For addition information, visit the website of the project at www.casi2020.eu or contact:

Zoya Damianova at: zoya.damianova@online.bg
Ventseslav Kozarev at: ventseslav.kozarev@online.bg
Adriana Dimova at: adriana.dimova@online.bg