SALT Network · TWG 2 — Research & Innovation

Our agenda

The two breakout questions

i. What is your vision for the SALT Network under your TWG, short term and long term?

Short term: research and innovation in an ethical manner, believable and grounded in principle, with value-based ESG made visible and testable, and intentional workshops that show the values in member work.

Long term: business as a force for good; SALT becomes the trusted source on value-based ESG, strengthening ESG performance through research.

ii. Propose 2-3 specific activities or initiatives for the SALT Network that relate to your TWG, and outline the resources required.

Three initiatives: (1) research built on the three theories (moral legitimacy, pragmatic, stakeholder); (2) intentional workshops showcasing member work; (3) an agreed ethical and verifiable use of AI in research.

Resources: members' time in kind, access to sources (books, Google-linked sites), AI tools on free tiers, verification effort, workshop spaces at SALT convenings, and peer review of the method.

What the group settled on

The agreed keywords

Strengthening Research and innovation Evidence-based insights Communities, businesses and institutions together Uphold the values

Mission is the doing. Vision is the seeing (the goal). The vision is inspired by the mission.

Q1 · short and long term

Vision

Short term

Research and innovation, ethically

Establish research done in an ethical manner, believable and grounded in principle. Keep SALT's founding background: the convergence of faith-based values with ESG principles, rooted in stewardship, compassion and justice. Make value-based ESG visible and testable, and run intentional workshops that show the values in real member work.

Long term

Business as a force for good

Faith-based business leaders using business as a force for good: addressing poverty and promoting sustainable development through ethical and value-driven practices, uniting the strengths of faith and business for positive social, economic and environmental impact. SALT becomes the trusted source on value-based ESG, strengthening ESG performance through research.

"The mission is the doing. The vision is the seeing. Our vision, inspired by the mission, strengthens innovation through research." — the group

Q2 · two to three initiatives

Initiatives

1 · Research

Built on the three theories

Moral legitimacy (intrinsic): is the organisation judged by whether its conduct truly reflects the values it professes? Are the values embedded, or only displayed?

Pragmatic (extrinsic): is the theory implemented in how the organisation actually carries out its work? Do practice and promise align?

Stakeholder (people-centred): stewardship, justice and all the values, for everyone affected.

These make the research believable and testable.

2 · Workshops

Intentional workshops that show the values

Not trainings. Spaces where founders, innovators, artists and members showcase what they have done and what they are doing. When people see real examples they understand the values on the wall of what SALT stands for.

"The vision is the main thing." — a member

3 · AI

Ethical and verifiable use of AI

Use AI as a first step, but ask it for the citations of where the information comes from. Then researchers go visit those places and verify directly, using books and other sources. Human verification decides, because AI can build a website quickly but cannot do a real backend properly.

Weigh AI's positive and negative effects on the environment, on the social, and on governance, and keep asking: positive or negative, should we move ahead?

Q2 · what it takes

Resources required

Resource	Source	Initiative
Members' time (in kind)	TWG 2 members	All three
Access to sources	Open web, books, Google-linked sites	3 · AI
AI tools (chat platforms)	Free tiers	3 · AI
Verification effort	Members visit cited sources	3 · AI
Workshop spaces and slots	SALT convenings, member venues	2 · Workshops
Peer review of the method	Members with domain knowledge	1, 3

Key caveat from the sessions: the main cost is in-kind member time. The monetary ask stays minimal for year 1.

Closing

One-line ask to the room

"Research & Innovation keeps SALT anchored to the three theories, verifiable AI, and people, community and environment at the centre. Lend your eyes and sources; we will provide the evidence-based insights."

Responsible research

Citation

SALT Network planning and breakout sessions, 23, 24 and 25 September 2026, notes of TWG 2 discussions.
SALT Network TWG Convening agenda, Strathmore University, 25 September 2026.
Contributors: [add participant names for citation].