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What is PAS 440 - Responsible innovation guide about?

Society has never been hungrier for innovation nor less tolerant of innovation which fails. To help companies innovate responsibly, PAS 440:2020 provides overarching guidance on how to structure innovative thinking and processes responsibly, irrespective of domain.

Who is PAS 440 - Responsible innovation guide for?

Those taking new products, services or processes to market
Company boards, risk committees, R&D

PAS 440:2020 will also interest a company’s wider stakeholders including:

Members of the public
Customers
Scientists/innovators
Regulators/policy makers
Suppliers
Financiers and investors
Current and prospective employees, and collaborators

Why should you use PAS 440 - Responsible innovation guide?

This document provides guidance for companies that want to innovate responsibly and to demonstrate their responsible behaviour. It will help them structure their thinking and guide their actions.

Companies need to consider not only the benefits of their innovations, but also any possible adverse impacts, including through unintended use, misuse or other unforeseen consequences; and to plan accordingly.

Until now there has been no overarching guidance for companies on how to structure their thinking and processes in this respect. PAS 440:2020 provides such guidance.

It will help companies think through the wider implications of their innovation, capture the outcomes of their reflection, and communicate this to stakeholders and wider society. All industry sectors are in scope.

PAS 440 is particularly relevant in the area of early stage and disruptive technologies, but can be applied anywhere. Its use helps to identify and mitigate risks – before they become an issue.

And it can help companies to reassure investors, customers and other stakeholders that the benefits of any innovation can be achieved, with appropriate mitigation of any potential downside risk, wherever that might otherwise accrue.

There are two main elements of responsible behaviour by companies:

a) Company-level responsibility, applying to organizational behaviour in general

b) Innovation-level responsibility, specific to each innovative development or class of developments

To learn more about what PAS 440:2020 covers and its benefits, listen to The Standards Show podcast episode here.

PAS 440:2020

Responsible Innovation. Guide

Current

Published:

31 Mar 2020