The NUCLEUS project is a 4-year, EU-funded project aimed at embedding responsible research and innovation (RRI) in the governance and culture of academic institutions. RRI involves stakeholders throughout the research process to better align outcomes with societal needs. NUCLEUS seeks to change university cultures and policies so that RRI principles like addressing social needs, rather than just research excellence, are prioritized. It involves studies of stakeholder attitudes, communication, and engagement to develop an RRI roadmap for universities.

1. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020
research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 664932.
NUCLEUS
H2020 EU project

2. WHAT IS NUCLEUS
• 4 year project funded by the EU (2015-2019)
• The goal is to embed RRI in the
governance and culture of academic
institutions in Europe, China, South Africa
and Georgia.
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“New Understanding of Communication, Learning and
Engagement in Universities and Scientific Institutions”

3. Responsible Research and Innovation
RRI is a process in which different members
of society work together throughout the
entire R&I process.
By doing so, they better align both the
process of research and its outcomes with
the values, needs and expectations of
society
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4. NEW
• NUCLEUS is working to change the
cultures and policies of universities and
research institutions so that RRI can thrive.
• Instead of “research excellence” being
measured by citation counts, what matters
will be how it addresses social needs.
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5. UNDERSTANDING
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• Identifying barriers & opportunities in
research governance and culture.
• International interview study of university
leadership and researchers analyzing
attitudes towards RRI in academic
environments.
• Field trips across Europe, China, and South
Africa already explored how policymakers,
journalists, citizens and other groups relate
to research.

6. of
COMMUNICATION, LEARNING, ENGAGEMENT
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• How do stakeholders communicate in
the research context?
• Do they learn from each other?
• What ways facilitate the engagement?

7. in UNIVERSITIES & SCIENTIFIC
INSTITUTIONS
• Drawing together these complementary strands,
NUCLEUS will develop an RRI Roadmap of
strategies for structural and cultural change in
universities and scientific institutions.
• 2 years of implementation and testing in 10
research institutions and 20 other organizations
• Policy recommendations for RRI in academic
environments
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8. 8
PROJECT MANAGEMENT – DISSEMINATION,
COMMUNICATION, MONITORING

9. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020
research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 664932.
twitter.com/NucleusRRI
facebook.com/NucleusRRI
nucleus-project.eu
Find us online!

10. Project Lead: Prof. Alexander Gerber
[a.gerber@nucleus-project.eu]
Project Administrative Manager:
Dr. Annette Klinkert
[a.klinkert@nucleus-project.eu]
Dissemination Officer: Robin Yee
[r.yee@nucleus-project.eu]
Financial Officer: Linda van Dijk
[l.vandijk@nucleus-project.eu]
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020
research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 664932.
The NUCLEUS Consortium