Accelerating innovation in sustainable development through transdisciplinary impact research

Abstract

Many global sustainable development challenges remain intractable due to the inadequacy of traditional approaches for dealing with complex, multi-dimensional, systemic problems from which the challenges arise, and the absence of effective innovation pathways between discovery and development practice. Faster paced innovation and systems change to overcome poor progress on the sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly for the global South, where a lack of cost-effective and accessible solutions results in political paralysis. In this context, mission-based, transdisciplinary impact research approaches that fast-track methodological development of research and practice in sustainable development are highly promising for achieving systems change and evidence-informed solutions to global sustainability challenges. Here, based on learnings from a large-scale program applying such an approach and comparable global exemplars, we provide some essential "pillars" of support as foundational practical guidance for others to implement this enabling model for impact-oriented research while concurrently delivering real-world impact and legacy.

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