Interdisciplinary Research for the Green and Digital Transition

The climate crisis and digitalisation are complex societal challenges requiring science-based knowledge to address. While, interdisciplinarity is a long-standing challenge, together with related notions such as trans- and cross-disciplinarity, which Science Europe addressed in 2018 (see the “’Symposium Report on Interdisciplinarity”). Interdisciplinary research is commonly considered better suited to tackle the so-called ‘Green and Digital Transition’ as it can mobilise different disciplines working together for a common goal. While science and scientific disciplines constantly evolve and have no fixed borders, this report proposes to conceive interdisciplinarity as a space for experimenting research practices. This experimental approach is strategic and needed for both research funding and performing organisations, as well as for other actors of the research ecosystem who want to address the climate crisis and digitalisation.

From this perspective, this report aims to address two main objectives.

1. Mapping the existing experiences of interdisciplinary research addressing the Green and Digital Transition funded and performed by Science Europe (SE) member organisations; and,
2. Proposing recommendations to reinforce, develop and improve interdisciplinary research activities for the Green and Digital Transition.