Facilitating Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Large-Scale Research Networks: Tackling Uncertainties in Knowledge Building and the Designing of Robotic Systems in Healthcare

Abstract Robots used for care purposes have been the subject of considerable research effort, often interdisciplinary. However, our work has shown that there are frequently difficulties in working together to produce interdisciplinary knowledge on human–robot and human–computer interaction. We describe an initiative to enable participants within and across research projects to improve collaboration. Mandated by the funding body, we developed the Research Practice Workshop tool to bring together 10 projects and more than 100 people from science, technology and healthcare in a large-scale funding stream. Our tool creates space for interdisciplinary participation, despite its top-down project structure. We present data from seven Research Practice Workshops that illustrate how knowledge sharing worked and what challenges we faced in accordance with our iterative and participatory approach. The aim is to show how networks of practice transfer knowledge, facilitate interdisciplinary cooperation and create imaginaries of robotics for care. The Research Practice Workshops are a valuable tool for creating shared visions and practical implementations with all stakeholders in a democratic process. This demonstrates how design knowledge can become relevant in interdisciplinary collaboration and how Research Practice Workshops can support large scale research networks. Ultimately, our paper contributes both to best practices in heterodox scientific project management and to an understanding of how disciplinary perspectives mediate research.