Exploring complexity, variety and the necessity of RRI in a developing country: the case of China

When considering the spread of RRI globally, especially as the concept moves from developed countries to developing countries, existing frameworks need to be able to adapt, so that they can operate within a country’s technological, social and political context, while at the same time emphasizing the international environment and the global governance of innovations. Here, we focus on China, a quickly developing country in the midst of a complicated transformation, driven in part by the robust development and extensive application of emerging technologies. Drawing on document studies and interviews in China, this article discusses the resonances and conflicts between the idea and operationalization of RRI, as it has been developed in Europe, and the current science and technology governance system in China.