Launch [tra:ce] Working Paper No. 8 "A Multi-Level Perspective on Transdisciplinary Projects in Sustainability Transitions"

Transdisciplinarity (TD) has emerged as a promising methodology for tackling complex sustainability problems by co-creating actionable knowledge with academic and non-academic stakeholders. While TD projects are widely recognized as drivers of sustainability transitions, little research has systematically situated their outcomes within established transition frameworks. The paper addresses this gap by analyzing TD projects through Geels’ (2002) Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) framework. It applies this analytical lens to a three-year TD project on biodiversity protection in supply chains, a context that exemplifies the multi-scalar nature of sustainability challenges. 

The analysis shows that, while TD projects function as niche spaces for experimentation, the firm and early integration of regime logics prioritizing practical, scalable results as well as targeted interactions with landscape levels are essential for meaningful contributions to sustainability transitions. The findings contribute to both TD and sustainability transition research by conceptualizing TD projects as level-spanning spaces that, only through early integration of regime logics and continuous consideration of landscape developments, can catalyze impactful change. The paper further provides valuable insights into the factors that facilitate or hinder TD-driven sustainability transitions. It concludes with implications for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers with regard to the future design of TD initiatives that aim to effectively advance transition processes.

Read the paper here.