Drivers for the emergence of interdisciplinary knowledge areas: An actor-level perspective on building legitimacy for the case of synthetic life sciences

No one discipline or knowledge area can spur the rise of novel technologies and solutions pivotal to mitigate the grand challenges confronting society. Such solutions increasingly require broad-based collaborations, new spaces for knowledge creation, and the emergence of interdisciplinary knowledge areas (IKAs). Little is known about the drivers for IKA emergence, specifically how their legitimacy can be built. Drawing on knowledge of emerging innovation ecosystems, we conceive legitimacy in terms of the need to align the views, skills, and motivations of diverse actors – between academia and industry and across disciplines as well. This exploratory study employs the mixed-methods approach of group concept mapping to examine drivers of new IKAs and specifically how legitimacy can be fostered from an actor-level perspective. This approach entails a series of steps whereby discussion is facilitated around a focus prompt, ideas are generated, the resulting statements are sorted (by participants) into categories and rated (for importance and changeability), and then analyzed and described using visual outputs. Employing synthetic life sciences as a case, an actor-based perspective is first provided of the drivers seen as most important and changeable, and how this varies by type of actor. We thereby elucidate initiatives promoting the emergence of IKAs, by stressing the importance of key actors or engaging with public concerns. Second, by examining similarities across actors, areas of consensus are highlighted, outlining a guiding vision to align their interests and goals. Third, by examining universities as a form of interdisciplinary invention ecosystem, we illustrate how universities are meaningful not only as a locus for groundbreaking research but a space where actors can collaborate for knowledge creation and exchange. Engaging universities through this lens, we finally provide a discussion of initiatives (outlined as propositions) that can promote the establishment of invention ecosystems, particularly around legitimacy-building by promoting broad-based collaboration. • Emerging interdisciplinary knowledge areas (IKAs) are key to confronting grand societal challenges. • Synthetic life sciences represent a relevant, even exemplary case of emerging IKA. • Mixed-methods approach of group concept mapping is used to provide actor-level perspective. • Key initiatives for building legitimacy and driving IKA emergence are identified. • Universities are conceptualized as form of interdisciplinary invention ecosystem.