Innovazione responsabile e professioni ingegneristiche : il ruolo dei codici etici

The notion of social responsibility in science, technology, and innovation (STI) has recently acquired increasing importance, both in public policy and in research practices. This article complements the existing literature on this topic by investigating the possible contribution of the ethics codes adopted by professional associations to the consolidation of a responsible innovation perspective. The article analyzes the content of five national (Canada, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States) engineering code of conduct and of an international one (WFEO – World Federation of Engineering Organizations), the article examines how the topic of engineer’s responsibility is articulated, coordinating the immediate obligations towards colleagues, customers and employers, with the broader duties towards society that are assigned to the engineering profession as such.