Qualities and assessment of Transdisciplinary Research – A Contribution to Excellence in Transdisciplinary Research

Position Paper 01-2026 of the Society for Transdisciplinary and Participatory Research (GTPF) Transdisciplinary research is indispensable for addressing complex societal challenges, yet the science system has so far assessed it against standards that capture its distinctive qualities only to a limited extent. The GTPF therefore calls for transdisciplinary research (TDR) to be recognised as an equally valid mode of scientific inquiry and for its specific qualities—close collaboration with societal actors, the integration of different forms of knowledge, an orientation towards real-world impacts, and a critical-reflexive research practice—to be systematically embedded in funding and evaluation. Assessment procedures must accompany the research process, give greater weight to qualitative criteria than to quantitative indicators, and be tailored to the transdisciplinary mode of research. Structural reforms are also needed: barriers must be removed, diverse research outputs recognised, and transdisciplinary competencies strengthened on a lasting basis in higher education and academic culture.