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.

This paper examines policy and practical avenues to integrate ‘environmental sustainability’ as the Sextuple aim to the five health care aim model: 1) quality and experience of patient care; 2) population health; 3) quality of work and satisfaction of healthcare providers; 4) equity and inclusion; and 5) cost reduction.

Alami, H., Lehoux, P., Miller, F. A., Shaw, S. E., & Fortin, J. P. (2023). An urgent call for the environmental sustainability of health systems: A ‘sextuple aim’ to care for patients, costs, providers, population equity and the planet. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 38(2), 289-295.

This study examines how the experience of 16 small- and medium-sized entreprises in Canada and Brazil can inform mission-oriented innovation policies to support Responsible Innovation in Health (RIH). Policy instruments that can align, orchestrate, and reconcile health priorities with a renewed understanding of innovation-led economic development are needed.

Lehoux, P., Silva, H. P., Miller, F., Denis, J. L., & Pozelli, R. S. (2023). How can entrepreneurs experience inform responsible health innovation policies? A longitudinal case study in Canada and Brazil. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management.

As we face the health, social, and economic impacts of climate change, the transformative power of AI does not lie in what it can do, but in why and how business leaders will implement it. This blog post describes strategic “do’s and don’ts” to guide business leaders along an AI development pathway fit for the 21st century.

Rivard, L., Lehoux, P. (2023). AI is not ready for the 21st century: What can business leaders do? The European Business Review. January 11, 2023.