Bajmócy, Zoltán | Hungary

Zoltán Bajmócy is an associate professor at the University of Szeged, Hungary, and works in cooperation with ESSRG. He is a founding member of the Community-based Research for Sustainability Association, which is a not-for-profit civil society organization, specialized in action research with marginalized communities. He holds a PhD in economics. In his work he attempts to combine research with social activism within an inter- and transdisciplinary environment. His aim is to conduct meaningful research that has a positive social impact, especially on the well-being of marginalized communities. As a social researcher he is particularly interested in human well-being, (technological) systems of power and oppression, marginalization, empowerment, citizen participation and agency.

Project at IAS-STS: A queer perspective on responsible research and innovation: giving voice to the unheard

The research project attempts to apply a queer perspective on responsible research and innovation (RRI) in the sense that it tries to draw attention, challenge and interrupt current hegemonic mechanisms with regard to RRI. It argues for an interpretation of RRI, which distributes power among stakeholders and therefore brings about transformative change. In order to do so the project problematizes certain central notions of RRI (e.g. participation, collective effort, inclusion): transforms notions that are now taken as granted in RRI discourse into questions, and draws attention to heteronormativity in these fields. In line with the queer tradition, the project also seeks for ways of “interruption”, and attempts to combine research and action.

Therefore, we are approaching questions that are rarely raised in the RRI literature about citizen participation, and looking for possible answers for these questions that may help RRI to challenge existing hegemonies, rethink the relation of researchers and citizens and listen to the unheard aspects and voiceless stakeholders. This endeavour is summarized in the form of three research objectives:

1. The clarification of the term ‘inclusion’ for RRI
2. Assessing the transformative potential of RRI
3. Designing a workability test for queer RRI
    

Selected Publications

Bajmócy Z. – Gébert J. (2014): The outlines of innovation policy in the capability approach. Technology in Society, 38, 1, pp. 93-102.

Bajmócy Z. – Málovics Gy. – Gébert J. (2014): On the informational basis of regional innovation policy: from growth to capabilities. European Planning Studies, 22, 7, pp. 1325-1341.

Bajmócy Z. – Gébert J. (2014): Arguments for deliberative participation in local economic development. Acta Oeconomica, 64, 3, pp. 313-334.