Dagmara Weckowska, Luise Lallinger and Rosalyn Old have completed the final toolkit workshop. The following article summarises their work in this particular research field.

The initial situation

The RI‑ProT project, funded by the Berlin University Alliance, links Protein Transitions and Responsible Innovation to study protein production systems. Through desk research and workshops, the team developed a framework, ten principles of responsible protein innovation, and a Responsible Innovation Radar to assess impacts. Universities worked with partner organizations and companies, who supported the idea of RI but lacked practical guidance for everyday use. To close this gap, the project planned a toolkit with simple methods and instructions to help companies apply responsible innovation.

The aims of the project

1. To exchange knowledge in Design Thinking workshops
2. To co-develop transformation-oriented knowledge
3. To create impulses for new TD projects

The achievements

The main output is a Toolkit for Responsible Protein Innovation. A card set for everyday use by innovators, especially in alternative proteins. The cards help teams learn about their responsibilities and try short RI activities that fit into regular meetings. The set is a physical card game with a digital file, available in German and English, and it contains Principle, Reflection and Action cards. Action cards offer 30‑minute taster exercises with links to full methods, and the card backs have examples and prompts to guide discussion; users can follow the deck order, focus on one principle, or pick cards at random.

Possible next steps

One hundred physical card sets are printed to be sent to curious protein innovators across Germany and Europe. Several companies are invited to a digital workshop in 2026 to test the toolkit and reflect together. The toolkit is available in German and English, as physical cards and a digital file, and the project will link up with Horizon Europe projects, networks and platforms to reach more organisations. The team hopes the cards make it easy and fun to start discussions on responsible innovation and that companies will use them in their own work. Follow‑up with recipients is planned, and participants suggested future work linking RI to company R&D, deeper toolkit use, and personal engagement with RI.

You can register your interest in the toolkit on this website. Simply follow the link below.