As the field of transdisciplinary research (TDR) has developed, many scholars have pointed out how the prevailing research context is persistently unfavourable to TD modes of knowledge production; TDR requires conditions that differ from those needed for basic disciplinary research (Dedeurwaerdere 2013; Kläy et al. 2015; Kueffer et al. 2012; Schneidewind 2009). For example, there is much evidence that interdisciplinary and TDR proposals have difficulty obtaining funding, since reviewers typically apply disciplinary perspectives and quality criteria instead of considering the integrated whole (Bromham et al. 2016; Mansilla 2006; Woelert and Millar 2013). Moreover, (classic) academic careers are still typically built on measuring scientific impact according to publication in peer-reviewed journals – journals that are more interested in the scientific part of TDR, not in the efforts of such research to contribute to actual societal transformations (Kueffer et al. 2012; Rhoten and Parker 2004). Consequently, for TDR to reach its full potential, experts and scholars argue that far-reaching structural and institutional changes are needed in how TDR is treated by research funding bodies (Dedeurwaerdere 2013; Defila and Di Giulio 1999; Kläy et al. 2015; Kueffer et al. 2012; Schneidewind 2009).

However, in recent years, funding bodies increasingly acknowledge the importance of TDR and rethink their funding approaches and practices. Some funders started to experiment with punctual changes in review and evaluation processes; others are designing entirely novel funding programmes and funding schemes. In some cases, these efforts have been accompanied by TDR specialists (e.g. Lira 2030 in Africa programme or the programme funding real-world laboratories of the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts Baden-Württemberg in Germany) or evaluated by independent researchers (e.g. DFG, FWF) or explored in a researcher funder collaborative project (RoRi Initiative - https://researchonresearch.org/project/undisciplined/.).

In order to learn from these efforts and unravel potentials and limitations of the different approaches, this session brings together researchers who investigated how research funding bodies enhanced transdisciplinary co-production of knowledge in different contexts.

The session starts with a short introductionary talk, followed by a series of moderated impulses addressing specific questions. In each impulse, two researchers with similar research questions are interviewed by a moderator (one slide is allowed for each researcher). In the last impulse, representatives of funding bodies and science policy organisations discuss the research and report about their own experiences. Each impulse is followed by an open discussion with all session attendees. The session ends with a structured exercise summarising the key lessons learned across the investigated funding programmes.

Session 1

- Introduction – Flurina Schneider, 10min

- Slot 1: Advantages and Disadvantages of different models, methods and design options for transdisciplinary research funding programmes (Gabriele Wülser and Helen Buckley Woods, moderated by Tobias Buser, 25min)

- Slot 2: Starting a transdisciplinary funding programme – about new methodologies for consortium formation and approaches to define review criteria (Laurens Hessels, Rico Defila und Antonietta Di Giulio, moderated by Flurina Schneider)

Session 2

- Slot 3: Promising approaches for funding transdisciplinary research in the Global South (Eefje Aarnoudse and Flurina Schneider, moderated by Tobias Buser, 25min)

- Slot 4: Funders perspectives – key interests, strategies, opportunities and challenges regarding TDR funding (Petra Biberhofer, Tobias Buser, Stefan Gröschne, Carthage Smith, Michiel van den Hout , moderated by Flurina Schneider, 25min)

- Conclusion – Tobias Buser, 10 min

Key readings

Defila, R.; Di Giulio, A. (2020): Science policy recommendations for funding real-world laboratories and comparable formats. In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, 29, 1, S. 63–65.

Hessels, L.; van den Broek, J.; van Elzakker, I.; van Drooge, L.; Deuten, J. (2021): Research programmes with a mission. https://www.rathenau.nl/sites/default/files/2022-03/Research_programmes_with_a_mission_Rathenau_Instituut.pdf (20.04.2022).

OECD [Hrsg.] (2020): Addressing societal challenges using transdisciplinary research - OECD Science, Technology and Industry Policy Papers 88.

Schneider, F., Patel, Z., Paulavets, K., Buser, T., Kado, J., Burkhart, S. (2023). Fostering transdisciplinary research for sustainability in the Global South: Pathways to impact for funding programmes. In: Humanit Soc Sci Commun 10 (1), S. 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-02138-3

Wuelser, G.; Edwards, P. (2023): Lighthouse Programmes in Sustainability Research and Innovation. Swiss Academies Reports 18 (2).