Societal impact

Transdisciplinary research aims to address complex societal issues by integrating knowledge from different disciplines and involving stakeholders from outside academia. This approach can lead to transformative societal impacts1 by fostering innovative solutions2, improving societal well-being3 and promoting sustainable development4. Integrating multiple perspectives and actively engaging stakeholders is key to effectively addressing complex societal challenges. Empirical evidence from various case studies and theoretical frameworks underlines the value of this approach and demonstrates its potential to drive positive societal change.

According to Merritt Polk5, research on complex sustainability problems requires input from different knowledge communities, including academia, business and government. Since it is not clear at the outset which knowledge from different disciplines and stakeholder groups will be relevant in a given context, an open, integrated process is needed that incorporates insights from many potential actors. Outcomes are stimulated by high levels of stakeholder participation,engagement in research processes, and by knowledge integration and reflexive learning across sectors and disciplines.6 Capturing multiple perspectives, integrating knowledge diversity and contributing to societal change are three key challenges for knowledge co-production. Strong collaboration between researchers and non-academic stakeholders can increase the legitimacy, ownership and accountability of both problems and solutions. According to Rik Leemans7, the effectiveness of this process can be enhanced if the orientations and motivations of individual programme leaders, sponsors and funders are better aligned early in the project. This underlines that cooperation, communication and commitment among project participants are directly related to its effectiveness, including the generation of real and lasting social impact.

Linked to the ENHANCE glossary, the Alliance sees societal impact as part of the broader social character of transdisciplinarity. In this context, societal impact is an element of the logical structure (Fig.1), which includes terms such as social participation, relevance, effect, impact and responsibility. Societal impact is just one of at least five different forms of social contribution and interdependencies with transdisciplinarity. Importantly, these internal connections are multidimensional and mutual between all five characteristics, and each is necessary to make transdisciplinarity effective and socially relevant.

For the ENHANCE Alliance as a result of mapping the transdisciplinary initiatives, societal impact is defined as added value and comprises a wide range of linkages to address and solve societal problems. Depending on the focus of the identified transdisciplinary initiative and the strategic orientation of the university, societal impact as added value can be achieved or enhanced in the following ways:8

• Transdisciplinary Process Design: Initiating a collaborative process that begins with co-framing a societal problem, co-producing new knowledge, and reiterating/reflecting on the transferability for potential upscaling in the scientific and societal spheres. By fostering strong synergies among the various stakeholders, they become more engaged in the problem-solving journey, leading to increased receptivity to the research outcomes of the transdisciplinary initiative.

• Facilitating Knowledge Exchange and Integration: Enabling knowledge exchange and knowledge integration for transdisciplinary research processes and projects in a long-term perspective. This approach supports sustainable growth and development over time.

• Addressing Societal Challenges: Through advanced research areas and programs as well as collaborative design of research concepts, prototypes, pilot projects and strategic partnerships (e.g. with industries and companies), solutions are co-created to address societal challenges.

• Raising Societal Awareness: Emphasising the necessity of co-designed solutions that integrate research and business teams with other stakeholders, raising awareness within society about the importance of collaborative approaches.

The transdisciplinary initiatives mapped at ENHANCE universities vary considerably in their focus on societal impact in terms of innovative and creative strategies. This variation depends on funding, strategic approach, methods and formats – and, most importantly, the levels of engagement. A broad common understanding of transdisciplinarity is fundamental to anchor this research principle for achieving the societal impacts and as a framework in the ENHANCE universities and to encourage further initiatives of knowledge exchange and collaboration between science and society for sustainable development. Together with the diverse approaches of the transdisciplinary initiatives within the ENHANCE alliance, it is the foundation for creating synergies between different stakeholders to promote the production and dissemination of new integrated knowledge and fostering sustainable solutions for societal transformation.

ENHANCE materials

• Discussion, comparison and analysis of transdisciplinary approaches in ENHANCE partner universities by Kathrin Wieck

• Catalogue of joint advisory for supporting transdisciplinary research by Sarah Fowkes and Kathrin Wieck