CASRI Workshop Delivers Key Insights for Sustainability Research and Innovation in Switzerland
A landmark workshop within the framework of the HORIZON Europe project "Collaborative Action for Sustainability Research and Innovation" (CASRI) took place the 28th of October 2024. The event brought together 17 Swiss stakeholders from research institutions, funding bodies, think tanks, and government agencies to discuss and consolidate findings from expert interviews. The CASRI project aims to identify knowledge gaps, improve funding mechanisms and strengthen the interaction between science, policy and society.
New Perspectives for Sustainability Research and Innovation
The workshop, organized by SCNAT in collaboration with the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), identified several key areas for advancing sustainability research and innovation. A central insight was the need for a more comprehensive understanding of sustainable development. Participants particularly emphasized the importance of moving away from siloed approaches towards more integrated thinking.
Further, experts highlighted the crucial importance of incorporating social science perspectives from the outset of research projects. This holistic approach aims to address sustainability challenges systemically and overcome sector-specific limitations.
Participants identified several key areas for action:
- Development of long-term programmatic approaches to effectively integrate science and policy aspects
- Targeted support for transdisciplinary research through seed funding, partnerships, and capacity building
- Promotion of flexibility and experimentation in scientific collaboration
- Support for unconventional research formats, such as real-world laboratories, and fostering social innovation initiatives.
Looking Ahead
The detailed results of the workshop will be published in the project's final report and will serve as a foundation for developing research agendas and funding mechanisms in the field of sustainability. This collaborative effort represents a significant step forward in addressing pressing environmental, economic, and social challenges through coordinated research initiatives.
About CASRI
Together with 16 partners from 13 countries - among them the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN -, we kicked-off the Collaborative Action for Sustainability Research and Innovation (CASRI) in March 2024 in Dessau-Rosslau.The Horizon Europe project aims to better connect environmental and sustainability research and innovation of European environmental agencies, to complement existing programmes and to push knowledge uptake. Learn more
