Mainstreaming responsible innovation in business: a systematic review of business ethics and innovation management literature

With the rise of disruptive technologies, integrating responsibility into corporate innovation is both urgent and essential. While existing studies offer comprehensive reviews on responsible innovation (RI), this study takes a unique approach by (1) examining how RI is integrated into mainstream business ethics and innovation management research and (2) proposing a future research agenda. It explores the extent to which business ethics and innovation management literature incorporate RI, assessing whether perspectives align with policy and academic conceptions. The findings reveal that while RI is acknowledged in business, it primarily focuses on innovation outcomes rather than systematically embedding responsibility into the innovation process. Moreover, four themes emerge: (1) a link between responsibility and innovation; (2) the value and benefits of RI; (3) the drivers of RI; and (4) RI implementation in companies. This study concludes by outlining a research agenda to enhance understanding of RI from both theoretical and practical perspectives.