Summer 2022 saw the first ever Oxford Policy Engagement Network (OPEN) Showcase, which provided a variety of engagement events around the university’s many policy endeavours. RoboTIPS was delighted to welcome Lord Tim Clement-Jones, Professor Alan Winfield, and the head of the project, Professor Marina Jirotka, to speak on policy engagement in ethical innovation. Lord Clement-Jones is Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on artificial intelligence (AI), and spoke on his engagement with academia as a policymaker and thought leader in technology and law. Alan Winfield, Professor of Robot Ethics at UWE Bristol, spoke on his experiences in bringing research to policymakers and the wider public, in the realm of both practical research and policy standards. Professor Jirotka spoke to her experiences in bringing responsible innovation to a variety of audiences, including policymakers, stakeholders, and academia itself. The event was attended both in person and online, with thoughtful and informed questions provided by both fora. The event was an excellent opportunity to discuss and connect over challenges and opportunities in the research-and-policy world, with fascinating insights as to the nature of policymaking for fast-moving technologies. The RoboTIPS team would like to thank all involved, particularly our guests Lord Clement-Jones and Professor Winfield, as well as the RTI members who graciously gave their time to making the event a success.
