1. Scope and purpose of this Policy
This Responsible Innovation & Research Policy sets out how the HEADTURNED Innovation Hub selects, designs, and reviews projects. It is intended to ensure that new ideas and technologies advance the Foundation's mission while managing risks responsibly for people, animals, and ecosystems.
The Policy applies to all Innovation Hub activities, including early-stage ideas, lab or workshop prototypes, field trials, pilot deployments, and work carried out in partnership with external organisations or contributors.
2. Mission-aligned innovation
All Innovation Hub projects must support at least one core Foundation aim: protecting animals, restoring ecosystems, improving food systems, or enabling community access to learning and careers. Projects that conflict with these aims, or primarily serve private commercial interests, will not proceed.
When assessing potential projects, we consider their likely contribution to long-term impact, not just short-term outputs or novelty. Where trade-offs are unavoidable, the Foundation's charitable purpose and conservation goals take priority.
3. Evidence-led development
We prioritise projects that are grounded in science, data, and lived experience. Where evidence is emerging or uncertain, we proceed cautiously, building in monitoring and review so that we can adjust or halt activity if risks increase or benefits do not materialise.
Innovation teams are expected to document relevant evidence, assumptions, and knowledge gaps at project outset, and to revisit these as projects evolve. Where specialist expertise is needed, we seek appropriate external input.
4. Safety and risk assessment
Before any project moves into field trials or operational use, we assess risks relating to wildlife disturbance, community impact, ecological side-effects, and data privacy or security. High-risk projects will only progress where suitable mitigations are in place and, where appropriate, additional governance oversight has been obtained.
Risk assessments are reviewed at key milestones, particularly when a project changes scope, moves into a new environment, or scales up. If at any point the risks outweigh the likely benefits, we will pause, redesign, or discontinue the work.
5. Transparency and documentation
We document key decisions, including why a project was prioritised, what options were considered, and what safeguards are in place. This documentation helps us learn over time and provides an accountability trail for trustees, partners, and the communities we work with.
Where it is safe and appropriate to do so, we share summaries of our projects publicly—for example through HEADTURNED Insights, reports, or talks—so that others can learn from our successes and mistakes.
6. Learning over volume
We value depth of insight over the number of projects. A single initiative that meaningfully improves animal welfare, conservation, or food systems is more important than multiple prototypes that do not lead to real-world change.
Innovation Hub teams are encouraged to share learning openly across the Foundation, including what did not work as expected. This culture of reflection and learning helps to avoid repeating mistakes and strengthens future projects.
7. Review and updates to this Policy
This Policy will be reviewed periodically and may be updated to reflect new legal requirements, ethical guidance, or developments in how the Innovation Hub operates. When material changes are made, the updated version will be published on this page.
Questions about this Policy, or concerns about specific Innovation Hub projects, can be raised through our usual contact routes or, where appropriate, under the Foundation's Complaints & Feedback Policy or Whistleblowing & Serious Concerns Policy.