Innovator 5.0: Integrating Design Thinking and Responsible Innovation into AI and Robotics Research Environments for Industry 5.0 and Society 5.0

Industry 5.0 and Society 5.0 call for a shift in AI and robotics development from a primary focus on automation and technical sophistication to holistic solutions that address human needs, social contexts, stakeholder perspectives, and broader societal impacts. Preparing future engineers for this shift requires educational approaches that connect technical development with design thinking and responsible innovation. To address this need, this study introduces Innovator 5.0, an educational framework that extends the Science–Engineering–Design (SED) model by incorporating responsibility (R + SED) within a design-thinking process. The proposed framework was implemented through seven embedded workshops during a five- to six-month international research internship involving nine undergraduate students across six AI and robotics projects. An exploratory post-programme evaluation examined participants’ design-oriented practices, perceived capability development, and experiences within the research environment. Participants reported high ratings across several evaluated dimensions, particularly for challenging problem statements before solution development (M = 6.78/7), systems thinking (M = 6.67/7), creative innovation (M = 6.56/7), contextual awareness (M = 6.33/7), and iterative revision (M = 6.11/7). They also highlighted project autonomy and facilitative mentoring as valued features, while limited direct stakeholder access was identified as an important implementation constraint. Together, these findings provide practical guidance for preparing engineers to consider the purpose, societal implications, and value of AI and robotics innovations alongside their technical feasibility, supporting people-centric and responsible engineering innovation.