Scientific and societal relevance in inter- and transdisciplinary research. Navigating tensions, harnessing potentials

Achieving both scientific and societal relevance in inter- and transdisciplinary research presents significant challenges. Drawing on three empirical examples, this paper demonstrates how emerging tensions can be transformed into productive potentials that stimulate reflection, foster integration, and drive innovation—highlighting the strategies and conditions necessary for successfully harnessing these potentials.In response to contemporary societal challenges, universities and funders increasingly call upon researchers to generate both scientifically and societally relevant knowledge by conducting inter- and transdisciplinary (ITD) research. While the ambition to bridge scientific and societal relevance can produce tensions during the research process, we argue that such tensions should not be viewed merely as barriers. Drawing on empirical insights from three recent ITD research initiatives in Switzerland, we demonstrate how tensions embody potentials and can serve as productive catalysts for reflection, integration, and innovation. Rather than striving to eliminate tensions, our analysis highlights strategies and conditions that enable research teams to harness them constructively. We conclude that a multi-level approach and concerted efforts by various actors are needed to create the conditions which enable the generation of both societally and scientifically relevant knowledge in ITD initiatives.