Responsible innovation management (RIM) ensures sustainable development by aligning with societal values, economic standards, ethical compliance, and environmental sustainability. This study primarily explores the association between RIM and sustainable development (SD) drawing from sustainable innovation theory. Second, additional associations were carried out to conduct in-depth assessments of RIM toward each factor of SD, e.g., social, environmental, and economic. Finally, a moderation influence of ethical compliance (EC) was considered between the nexus of RIM and sustainable development. First, positive connections between RIM were found toward sustainable development along with each factor of SD such as social, environmental, and economic. This study also confirmed a positive moderation of ethical compliance between RIM and sustainable development. This study suggests several interesting and fruitful managerial implications for RIM and EC through which an organisation may obtain sustainable development.