Responsible Innovation of Chinese ports

Abstract

Traditional Chinese ports are still under the influence of the "Economy centralized principle", economic interests are amplified while environmental and social impacts are seriously ignored. In this way, disharmony appeared and severely interrupted the execution of the projects. Therefore, an approach which could bridge the environmental and social conflicts is urgently needed. Responsible innovation is such an approach.

Under the responsible innovation framework, the essence of conflicts lies in stakeholder's value conflicts. Therefore, research questions are proposed:
- Have Chinese ports seriously considered the value conflicts with other stakeholders and realized Responsible Innovation?
- How can Chinese ports from their best efforts bridge the value gaps, realize Responsible Innovation?

In this study, Shenzhen Yantian port extension project is introduced as the case to study as Shenzhen is the most open city since China's "Open up and Reform". In addition, in responsible innovation analytical framework, determine the stakeholders involved, the impacts brought by the project and value conflicts among stakeholders are important steps in terms of detecting the essential value conflicts and find a possible solution to bridge the value gaps. As a result, three analyses are made for the purpose of determining the value conflicts between Chinese ports and other stakeholders, they are stakeholder analysis, impact assessment and value conflict analysis.

From three analyses, this study concludes that Shenzhen Yantian port did not completely take: "all the stakeholders involved", "impacts brought by the project" and "value conflicts between them and other stakeholders" into account. In other words, Shenzhen Yantian port has not realized responsible innovation completely.

To assist Chinese ports in realizing responsible innovation, Multi Actor Negotiation Committee (MANC) mechanism is recommended for its advantage that MANC offers an effective channel for stakeholders to communicate with others and strategically make compromises which would bridge the value gaps.

Interview and questionnaire are two instruments applied in collecting data and all the analyses are based on reasonable inferences and assumptions.