Harnessing human-centric research and innovation

“For European innovation to be successful, it has to be based on human values,” Maria Pilar Aguar Fernández, director of people, health and society at the DG for Research and Innovation of the European Commission, told the Human Values and Grand Challenges conference in Copenhagen. Her words echoed the general message of the event, which addressed the need for a stronger role for human values in research and innovation (R&I). 

After all, the notion of human values is central to EU’s mission for innovation and competitiveness, Fernández noted. “Human values, such as dignity, freedom, equality and democracy, define the European way of life.” As such, these values should also guide the European R&I agendas, she stressed.

During the conference, stakeholders from academia, policy and industry came together to discuss how to achieve human-centric R&I and why social sciences, arts and humanities (SSAH) are indispensable in this process.  Noting that innovation is a human endeavour, Per Michael Johansen, Rector of Aalborg University stressed that SSAH perspectives are crucial to build and uphold an inclusive, resilient and competitive Europe.

“We need to integrate humanistic dimensions, not as add-ons, but as integral parts of addressing technological challenges we face,” he added. “We have a unique opportunity to embed SSAH principles in every foundation of European research and innovation. Europe needs to put humanity in the centre of innovation.” 

Such a human-centric approach will pay off in the long-run, emphasised Christina Egelund, Danish Minister for Higher Education and Science. “What kind of society do we want technologies to serve?” she asked. “Where do new disruptive technologies, like AI, leave human beings?” These questions are the foundation of responsible innovation, and the reason why SSAH have a crucial role to play. “This is not a disadvantage in the global innovation race. It is an advantage. We look at long-term prosperity. In the long run, it makes us stronger,” Egelund added.

Unified vision of science

There was a consensus at the conference that it is time to move away from speaking about SSAH “integration” and move towards a more unified vision of science. “Let’s not talk about integration. Let’s discuss research and innovation in broader terms,” said Vinciane Gaillard, director for research and innovation at the European University Association. “We should go beyond the idea of disciplines; try to understand what the goals are and how we can work on them together.” 

Integration should, therefore, start at the very beginning of the R&I process – when the challenge and the desired solution are being defined, stressed Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council. “SSAH are often involved at the end of the project when they are asked to provide ethical and societal interpretations. They become translators, not contributors.” But SSAH is more than adding a social component and should not be seen as luxury, emphasised Leptin. “All sciences should be equal partners. Freedom of enquiry is not an indulgence. It is preparation. It gives society the opportunity to reflect and correct itself.” 

Mission-based research 

In the spirit of “unified science”, many of the conference participants identified mission-driven research as a key driver of interdisciplinary collaboration. Rather than attempting to merge various disciplines and methodologies, the starting point of any R&I should be a common quest to solve a specific problem. 

Universities have a unique role to play in this regard. Some of them, such as Aalborg University and Erasmus University Rotterdam, already focus on mission-based research and aim to combine various fields of expertise in tackling one common challenge. “We organise ourselves in missions,” said Annelien Bredenoord, President of the Executive Board of Erasmus University Rotterdam. “The goals of our research and the way it is funded make it mandatory for people to work together. That is the future of our university.” 

Erasmus University Rotterdam has appointed so-called integration experts who operate as “translators” proficient in both SSAH and STEM terminologies and who help bridge the gap between the fields. A role that – if applied more broadly - could support SSAH integration at a larger scale.

Furthermore, universities should not forget about their obligations to students and education. “SSAH and STEM collaboration should be incorporated into the curriculum so that the next generations are more ready and prone to this collaboration,” suggested Kristin B. Munksgaard, vice-dean for funding and external relations and director at the University of Southern Denmark Business School. This approach will require the existing generation of educators to be retrained, she noted. 

Holistic framing of competitiveness 

Another message which echoed throughout the conference was that competitiveness should be viewed holistically, rather than being defined in purely economic terms.  “We have been living with the economic paradigm for a long time. We should measure values and growth also through other parameters,” according to Connie Hedegaard, former EU Commissioner for Climate and former Danish Minister. “Policymakers are afraid of losing the traditional competition, and I think they need some help. With the polarisation growing in Europe, they need help to show examples of how more focus on values and SSAH benefits people’s wellbeing. Bring it into play and bring it into the political arena.” 

Active contribution to policies 

Speakers called on the scientific community to actively contribute to new policies and ensure that human-centric R&I strategies are included in the EU’s next MFF (multiannual financial framework).  “The process of approving the next MFF is a real democratic process involving people from many different levels,” said Gabi Lombardo, director of European Alliance for Social Sciences and Humanities. “This is the time to come together. I’m calling on the community to work together systematically.” 

Scientists need to communicate better, added Hedegaard, pointing out that policymakers often don’t receive the knowledge they need. “Policymakers are drowning and don’t have time to read the reports. They need help. The scientific community needs to think about how to spend even more energy on this and bring knowledge to play.”

Based on the input gathered during the Human Values and Grand Challenges conference, a set of draft policy recommendations will be produced, aiming to propose adjustments in European R&I programmes to achieve a truly human-centric approach. The draft recommendations will be published via Science Business in early 2026.