This study explores the relationship between the entrepreneurial skillsets of 16 Canadian and Brazilian for-profits and not-for-profits producing Responsible Innovations in Health (RIH) and their degree of responsibility. We identify four skillsets: Technical, Technical + Business, Social, and Social + Business. Findings associated to the overall RIH score are intriguing: the presence of business skills appears to mediate the relationship between skillsets and the degree of responsibility. This may be linked to ordinary capabilities —“doing things right”— and dynamic capabilities —“doing the right things.” Because “falling in love” with RIH is not sufficient, there is a need to properly orchestrate capabilities to reconcile economic and social goals.

Lehoux, P., Silva, H.P., Denis-, J.-L, Morioka, S.N., Harfoush, N., Sabio, R.P. (2023). What entrepreneurial skillsets support responsible value creation in health and social care? A mixed methods study. Business, Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility. 

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a critical role in driving innovations and creating value for society. Yet, SMEs are also particularly vulnerable in times of crisis, in part because of their newness and smallness. This study provides insights into how Covid-19 triggered transformative responses in the business model of SMEs producing responsible innovation in health and social care. A multilevel approach to business model challenges can help entrepreneurs be better prepared for what may remain a challenging entrepreneurial journey.

Silva, H., Lehoux, P., Sabio, R. (2023). Challenges to responsible value creation during the Covid-19 pandemic: A multiple case study on SMEs’ transformative responses. Journal of the Knowledge Economy.

Clinicians’ scope of responsibilities is being steadily transformed by digital health solutions that operate with or without artificial intelligence (DAI solutions). Most tools developed to foster ethical practices lack rigor and do not concurrently capture the health, social, economic, and environmental issues that such solutions raise. The tool that our team developed through a rigorous 3-step study design offers a comprehensive, valid, and reliable means of assessing the degree of responsibility of DAI health solutions. As regulation remains limited, this forward-looking tool has the potential to change practice toward more equitable as well as economically and environmentally sustainable digital health care.

Lehoux, P., Rocha de Oliveira, R., Rivard, L., Silva, H. P., Alami, H. Mörch, C.-M., Malas, K. (2023). A comprehensive, valid, and reliable tool to assess the degree of responsibility of digital solutions that operate with or without artificial intelligence. 3-phase mixed methods study. Journal of Medical Internet Research.

Focusing on a subset of 34 tools identified through a comprehensive scoping review, this qualitative thematic analysis identifies and illustrates how two responsibility principles—environmental sustainability and organisational responsibility—are meant to be put in practice. Recognising that key design and development decisions in the digital health industry are largely shaped by market considerations, this study indicates that significant work lies ahead for medical and organisation leaders to support the development of solutions fit for climate change.

Rivard. L., Lehoux, P., Rocha de Oliveira, R., Alami, H. (2023). Thematic analysis of tools for health innovators and organisation leaders to develop digital health solutions fit for climate change. BMJ Leader.

This case study, conducted in Québec (Canada) and in the state of São Paulo (Brazil), characterizes their respective food system to identify their vulnerabilities as well as characteristics associated to responsible innovation. Because neoliberal food regimes currently prioritize economic goals over food security goals, supporting a transition towards sustainable food systems is urgent.

Pozelli Sabio, R., Lehoux, P. (2023). Characterizing food systems to better understand their vulnerabilities: A case study in Québec and São Paulo. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 38, E25.

This scoping review examines the measures used in research to report power asymmetries in online public deliberations. Guidance is offered for researchers and practitioners to choose the most appropriate measures in view of their properties and conceptual relevance.

Jimenez-Pernett, J., Lehoux, P., Olry-de-Labry, A., & Bermudez-Tamayo, C. (2023). Accounting for power imbalances in online public deliberations. A Systematic Review of asymmetry measures. Health Policy and Technology, 100721.