Abstract Summary
Addressing climate change, resource scarcity, and environmental degradation necessitate holistic solutions requiring inter- and transdisciplinary (ITD) engagement and collaboration. However, collaboration in ITD settings remains challenging, limiting the potential for widespread adoption of innovative climate and sustainability solutions. In the context of water and climate ITD research and innovation projects, effective stakeholder engagement, collaboration and knowledge integration are fundamental to navigating complex socio-economic challenges and achieving lasting impact. Drawing lessons from EU-funded ITD research and innovation projects – including B-WaterSmart, IMPETUS, REWAISE, ULTIMATE, WATER-MINING, and WIDER UPTAKE – we highlight the synergistic potential of combining structured stakeholder engagement activities with targeted and useful collaboration processes. Applying these activities and processes across project phases – i.e., pre-project and design, implementation and post-project – can help contribute to the co-creation of knowledge and innovative solutions that are rooted in socio-economic contexts. With these insights, we present pathways for researchers and practitioners to pivot from traditional research dissemination and exploitation methods to focus more on knowledge co-creation and integration processes that help ensure knowledge outputs and solutions are relevant to the intended users. In such a way EU-funded ITD research and innovation projects can maximise their socio-economic impact and contribute to the transition towards a more water-smart society and economy.
