Advances in Phytochemistry, Textile and Renewable Energy Research for
Industrial Growth – Nzila et al. (Eds)
© 2022 Copyright the Author(s), ISBN: 978-1-032-11871-0
Open Access: www.taylorfrancis.com, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license
Research ethics and scientific innovation nexus: Unpacking the essentials
Julius Kipkemboi
UNESCO Chair in Bioethics, Egerton University/UNESCO Regional Bioethics Centre, Egerton University, Njoro,
Kenya
Violet Naanyu
School of Arts and Social Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
AMPATH IU-Kenya partnership, Kenya
ABSTRACT: Research on scientific technologies and innovations remains critical in providing solutions to
societal challenges. Sustainable development policy decisions must be informed by sound scientific research that
adheres to ethical values and practice. The quality of research, innovations and consequently the technologiesarising therein should be within acceptable integrity standards. This implies that ethical lapses in research
and innovation development can harm those involved as research participants, researchers, the public and the
environment. It also compromises research and innovations outcomes. Besides this, deliberate, dangerous and
negligent deviations can damage institutional image. It is therefore vital for researchers to conduct research
with integrity and sustain a research environment that fosters veracity. Furthermore, for scientific research,
innovations and scholarships to endure, these efforts must be founded on objectivity, clarity, reproducibility and
utility. This article emphasises on ethics as an integral part of research on scientific technologies and innovations.
It reflects on what ethical research and innovation entails and the integrity expected from researchers. It also
discusses importance of complying with ethical requirements with emphasis on informed consent, where human
participants are involved. Ethical review of research and innovation protocols by an accredited committee is
one way of mitigating the risk of research misconduct. Furthermore, in the case of innovations, one of the key
integrity issue is the intellectual property rights. In this paper, we discuss ethical issues in the research and
innovation lifecycle. There is no doubt that the quest for new knowledge and innovations is inevitable as society
continues to face new challenges, which require scientific, technological and innovative solutions. Nonetheless,
if advances in science, technology and innovations are to create meaningful contribution to communities, then
ethical considerations are unavoidable.
Keywords: Ethical clearance; Good research practices; Informed consent; Intellectual property rights; Research
misconduct; Scientific integrity; Subsidiarity
1 INTRODUCTION
Research and innovations form the cornerstones of
human advancement and by extension sustainable
development. These two aspects of scientific and
technological advancement are intricately related yet
independent. The common denominator in both cases
is the basis of ideas, thinking and questioning the
existing reality in a bid to find solutions to problems
affecting humanity. Research is systematic investigation to establish facts about these problems, and
possible solutions and expanding conclusions. Innovation is embedded in research because the initial
idea can only be translated into a prototype through
research (Fassin 2000). Innovations however, include
strong components of commercialisation and continuous improvements phases. Research and innovations
have converging end points with respect to better
societal outcomes, which include new ideas and or
products hence by extension and improved quality of
life. Research and innovations when put in the context of development are essential ingredients of any
industrial growth.
Sustainable development heavily relies on research
in science, technology and innovation (Levi,
Raki´ cevi´ c & Jovanovi´ c 2018). Advances in science,
technology and innovation are therefore considered as
the toolboxes for industrial advancement. Technological knowledge accrued from scientific research can
be applied to solve problems at community, institutional and industrial scale. Innovations can be technical
when new ideas emanating from practical knowledge
or experience are conceived and tested through a scientific process or industrial when the focus is the
development of new products or new processes by the
industrial sector (Fassin 2000). Scientific development
DOI 10.1201/9781003221968-2
11
Industrial Growth – Nzila et al. (Eds)
© 2022 Copyright the Author(s), ISBN: 978-1-032-11871-0
Open Access: www.taylorfrancis.com, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license
Research ethics and scientific innovation nexus: Unpacking the essentials
Julius Kipkemboi
UNESCO Chair in Bioethics, Egerton University/UNESCO Regional Bioethics Centre, Egerton University, Njoro,
Kenya
Violet Naanyu
School of Arts and Social Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
AMPATH IU-Kenya partnership, Kenya
ABSTRACT: Research on scientific technologies and innovations remains critical in providing solutions to
societal challenges. Sustainable development policy decisions must be informed by sound scientific research that
adheres to ethical values and practice. The quality of research, innovations and consequently the technologiesarising therein should be within acceptable integrity standards. This implies that ethical lapses in research
and innovation development can harm those involved as research participants, researchers, the public and the
environment. It also compromises research and innovations outcomes. Besides this, deliberate, dangerous and
negligent deviations can damage institutional image. It is therefore vital for researchers to conduct research
with integrity and sustain a research environment that fosters veracity. Furthermore, for scientific research,
innovations and scholarships to endure, these efforts must be founded on objectivity, clarity, reproducibility and
utility. This article emphasises on ethics as an integral part of research on scientific technologies and innovations.
It reflects on what ethical research and innovation entails and the integrity expected from researchers. It also
discusses importance of complying with ethical requirements with emphasis on informed consent, where human
participants are involved. Ethical review of research and innovation protocols by an accredited committee is
one way of mitigating the risk of research misconduct. Furthermore, in the case of innovations, one of the key
integrity issue is the intellectual property rights. In this paper, we discuss ethical issues in the research and
innovation lifecycle. There is no doubt that the quest for new knowledge and innovations is inevitable as society
continues to face new challenges, which require scientific, technological and innovative solutions. Nonetheless,
if advances in science, technology and innovations are to create meaningful contribution to communities, then
ethical considerations are unavoidable.
Keywords: Ethical clearance; Good research practices; Informed consent; Intellectual property rights; Research
misconduct; Scientific integrity; Subsidiarity
1 INTRODUCTION
Research and innovations form the cornerstones of
human advancement and by extension sustainable
development. These two aspects of scientific and
technological advancement are intricately related yet
independent. The common denominator in both cases
is the basis of ideas, thinking and questioning the
existing reality in a bid to find solutions to problems
affecting humanity. Research is systematic investigation to establish facts about these problems, and
possible solutions and expanding conclusions. Innovation is embedded in research because the initial
idea can only be translated into a prototype through
research (Fassin 2000). Innovations however, include
strong components of commercialisation and continuous improvements phases. Research and innovations
have converging end points with respect to better
societal outcomes, which include new ideas and or
products hence by extension and improved quality of
life. Research and innovations when put in the context of development are essential ingredients of any
industrial growth.
Sustainable development heavily relies on research
in science, technology and innovation (Levi,
Raki´ cevi´ c & Jovanovi´ c 2018). Advances in science,
technology and innovation are therefore considered as
the toolboxes for industrial advancement. Technological knowledge accrued from scientific research can
be applied to solve problems at community, institutional and industrial scale. Innovations can be technical
when new ideas emanating from practical knowledge
or experience are conceived and tested through a scientific process or industrial when the focus is the
development of new products or new processes by the
industrial sector (Fassin 2000). Scientific development
DOI 10.1201/9781003221968-2
11