“Responsible research and innovation is a transparent, interactive process in which social actors and innovators engage with each other with regard to the acceptance, sustainability, and social desirability of the innovation process and its marketable products (René von Schomberg: A Vision of Responsible Research and Innovation, 2013).”

Whether we have always followed this process in research and development is something everyone can answer for themselves. In my keynote speech, I had the opportunity to discuss with the participants of the 6th Helmholtz Sustainability Summit how responsible innovation can be more successful in the future and what role the Little Prince and The Very Hungry Caterpillar play in this context.