Start doing the right thing: Indicators for socially responsible start-ups and investors

This paper explores the gap in the literature on social responsibility guidance for start-ups and start-up investors. It begins by evaluating research conducted in two different fields (namely, socially responsible investment (SRI) and responsible research and innovation (RRI)) and how they can guid...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mark Ryan, Eugen Popa, Vincent Blok, Andrea Declich, Maresa Berliri, Alfonso Alfonsi, Simeon Veloudis, Natalia Costanzo, Martina Iannuzzi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Responsible Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666659624000209
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850247347690274816
author Mark Ryan
Eugen Popa
Vincent Blok
Andrea Declich
Maresa Berliri
Alfonso Alfonsi
Simeon Veloudis
Natalia Costanzo
Martina Iannuzzi
author_facet Mark Ryan
Eugen Popa
Vincent Blok
Andrea Declich
Maresa Berliri
Alfonso Alfonsi
Simeon Veloudis
Natalia Costanzo
Martina Iannuzzi
author_sort Mark Ryan
collection DOAJ
description This paper explores the gap in the literature on social responsibility guidance for start-ups and start-up investors. It begins by evaluating research conducted in two different fields (namely, socially responsible investment (SRI) and responsible research and innovation (RRI)) and how they can guide social responsibility in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) start-ups. To do this, we evaluate an industry-standard SRI catalogue of metrics - the Global Impact Investing Network's (GIIN) Impact Reporting and Investment Standards (IRIS+) - and indicators from 12 EC-funded RRI projects. Based on this analysis, we propose a framework of 24 indicators to assess the social responsibility of start-ups and investors. The purpose of our framework is twofold: firstly, to provide clear guidance for start-ups aiming to implement socially responsible behaviours, and secondly, to provide start-up investors with criteria to identify if start-ups are socially responsible. While the indicators are phrased in a prescriptive way for start-ups, they can also be used by investors to identify if start-ups are implementing the indicators in practice.
format Article
id doaj-art-82771cacbb2a4518978d3c2aa1e823d4
institution OA Journals
issn 2666-6596
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of Responsible Technology
spelling doaj-art-82771cacbb2a4518978d3c2aa1e823d42025-08-20T01:58:56ZengElsevierJournal of Responsible Technology2666-65962024-12-012010009410.1016/j.jrt.2024.100094Start doing the right thing: Indicators for socially responsible start-ups and investorsMark Ryan0Eugen Popa1Vincent Blok2Andrea Declich3Maresa Berliri4Alfonso Alfonsi5Simeon Veloudis6Natalia Costanzo7Martina Iannuzzi8Philosophy Department, Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands; Corresponding author.Philosophy Department, Wageningen University & Research, the NetherlandsPhilosophy Department, Wageningen University & Research, the NetherlandsKnowledge & Innovation, ItalyKnowledge & Innovation, ItalyKnowledge & Innovation, ItalySEERC, GreeceEBAN, BelgiumEBAN, BelgiumThis paper explores the gap in the literature on social responsibility guidance for start-ups and start-up investors. It begins by evaluating research conducted in two different fields (namely, socially responsible investment (SRI) and responsible research and innovation (RRI)) and how they can guide social responsibility in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) start-ups. To do this, we evaluate an industry-standard SRI catalogue of metrics - the Global Impact Investing Network's (GIIN) Impact Reporting and Investment Standards (IRIS+) - and indicators from 12 EC-funded RRI projects. Based on this analysis, we propose a framework of 24 indicators to assess the social responsibility of start-ups and investors. The purpose of our framework is twofold: firstly, to provide clear guidance for start-ups aiming to implement socially responsible behaviours, and secondly, to provide start-up investors with criteria to identify if start-ups are socially responsible. While the indicators are phrased in a prescriptive way for start-ups, they can also be used by investors to identify if start-ups are implementing the indicators in practice.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666659624000209Responsible research and innovationSocially-responsible investmentStart-upsIndicatorsBusiness ethics
spellingShingle Mark Ryan
Eugen Popa
Vincent Blok
Andrea Declich
Maresa Berliri
Alfonso Alfonsi
Simeon Veloudis
Natalia Costanzo
Martina Iannuzzi
Start doing the right thing: Indicators for socially responsible start-ups and investors
Journal of Responsible Technology
Responsible research and innovation
Socially-responsible investment
Start-ups
Indicators
Business ethics
title Start doing the right thing: Indicators for socially responsible start-ups and investors
title_full Start doing the right thing: Indicators for socially responsible start-ups and investors
title_fullStr Start doing the right thing: Indicators for socially responsible start-ups and investors
title_full_unstemmed Start doing the right thing: Indicators for socially responsible start-ups and investors
title_short Start doing the right thing: Indicators for socially responsible start-ups and investors
title_sort start doing the right thing indicators for socially responsible start ups and investors
topic Responsible research and innovation
Socially-responsible investment
Start-ups
Indicators
Business ethics
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666659624000209
work_keys_str_mv AT markryan startdoingtherightthingindicatorsforsociallyresponsiblestartupsandinvestors
AT eugenpopa startdoingtherightthingindicatorsforsociallyresponsiblestartupsandinvestors
AT vincentblok startdoingtherightthingindicatorsforsociallyresponsiblestartupsandinvestors
AT andreadeclich startdoingtherightthingindicatorsforsociallyresponsiblestartupsandinvestors
AT maresaberliri startdoingtherightthingindicatorsforsociallyresponsiblestartupsandinvestors
AT alfonsoalfonsi startdoingtherightthingindicatorsforsociallyresponsiblestartupsandinvestors
AT simeonveloudis startdoingtherightthingindicatorsforsociallyresponsiblestartupsandinvestors
AT nataliacostanzo startdoingtherightthingindicatorsforsociallyresponsiblestartupsandinvestors
AT martinaiannuzzi startdoingtherightthingindicatorsforsociallyresponsiblestartupsandinvestors