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The transdisciplinary research mode has gained prominence in the research on and for sustainability transformations. Yet, solution-oriented research addressing complex sustainability problems has become complex itself, with new transdisciplinary research formats being developed and tested for this purpose. Application of new formats offers learning potentials from experience. To this end, we accompanied fourteen research projects conceptualized as real-world labs (RwLs) from 2015 to 2018. RwLs were part of a funding program on ‘Science for Sustainability’ in the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg. Here, we combine conceptual and empirical work to a structured collection of experiences and provide a comprehensive account of RwLs. First, we outline characteristics of RwLs as transformation oriented, transdisciplinary research approach, using experiments, enabling learning and having a long-term orientation. Second, we outline eleven success factors and concrete design notes we gained through a survey of the 14 RwLs: (1) find the right balance between scientific and societal aims, (2) address the practitioners needs and restrictions, (3) make use of the experimentation concept, (4) actively communicate, (5) develop a ‘collaboration culture’, (6) be attached to concrete sites, (7) create lasting impact and transferability, (8) plan for sufficient time and financial means, (9) adaptability, (10) research-based learning, and (11) recognize dependency on external actors. Characteristics and success factors are combined to illustrate practical challenges in RwLs. Third, we show which methods could be used to cope with challenges in RwLs. We conclude discussing the state of debate on RwLs and outline future avenues of research.

There is an increasing call for science to contribute more to real-world solutions for a sustainability transformation. At the same time, the scientific landscape encompasses different concepts, which are characterized as practice-oriented, addressing social challenges and wicked problems, which thus offer potential to contribute to a transformation, notably: technology assessment (TA), responsible research and innovation (RRI), and real-world labs (RwLs). This article deals with the question of how these different concepts can be better integrated to contribute to a transformation. With this goal in mind, we analyze the three concepts, show their core characteristics, and identify their common key similarities. TA and RRI have rarely been connected to transformative sustainability research in general or RwLs in particular. Based on the key similarities and respective strengths of the three concepts, we suggest four ways to integrate the approaches, including the novel endeavor of a Reflexive Sustainable Technology Lab as the highest level of the concepts’ synthesis.

Cities worldwide are rising to the challenge of sustainable development, calling for large-scale and fastpaced transformations towards sustainability. Urban sustainability challenges are now being reframed as a lack of capacity of individuals and organizations to carry out such socio-technical transformations. This article expands on transformative capacity literature by elucidating the concept of actor-centric transformative capacity. It focuses on the unique role city-university partnerships (CUPs) can play in catalyzing and supporting effective urban sustainability transformations. Two case studies on CUPs in Portland, Oregon and Tempe, Arizona are used to identify determinants of actor-centric transformative capacity, their role in the transformative capacity of urban systems, and how they are built through CUPs. The article concludes with strategies for building effective CUPs capable of building actor-centric transformative capacity among university actors and city administrators.

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to present a research approach that can contribute to a sustainable development of urban spaces for sports and physical activity, comprising theoretical reflections and directions for applied research.Design/methodology/approachThis research builds on an urban real-world lab in a city district. It is based on principles of transdisciplinary research and intense processes of participation.FindingsFive projects with regard to sport and physical activity development were implemented. The projects resulted in exchange and learning of citizens and other stakeholders as well as transformations of the social and built environment.Research limitations/implicationsInstead of top-down research and planning this approach enables bottom-up processes in which affected citizens and stakeholders can contribute to sport and physical activity development.Practical implicationsThe approach can help to integrate sport and physical activity development and transformative processes of sustainable development in urban areas.Social implicationsThrough participation and involvement, citizens can be empowered and social capital can be generated.Originality/valueUrban real-world labs are a new approach for sport and physical activity development. This approach opens up the possibility to include sport and physical activity development in processes of city development. Hence, urban real-world labs are able to address an integrated urban and sport development process and can be used for city marketing purposes.

Reallabore sind ein recht junges Forschungsformat. Die Betreiber der bestehenden Reallabore in Baden-Württemberg ( BaWü-Labs ) nutzen ihre Erkenntnisse und geben neun Empfehlungen für die Fortführung von Reallaboren.

Reallabore sind in der Forschungslandschaft inzwischen sehr populär. Das Format steckt aber immer noch im Anfangsstadium, ist selbst noch mehr Experiment denn Labor. So fehlen Reallaboren häufig eine langfristige Perspektive sowie eine gleichberechtigte Unterstützung aus Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft. Das sich im Aufbau befindende Karlsruher Transformationszentrum zeigt, wie diese Schwächen behoben werden und Reallabore langfristig sozial-ökologische Transformationen gestalten können.

Gemeinsam mit der Bürgerschaft gestaltet das Reallabor 131 : KIT findet Stadt das Leben in der Karlsruher Oststadt nachhaltiger. Das Team will auch den neuen Forschungsansatz Reallabor voranbringen und hat aus den ersten Ergebnissen essen-zielle Kriterien für die Etablierung von Reallaboren entwickelt.

Reallabore sind ein recht junges Forschungsformat. Die Betreiber der bestehenden Reallabore in Baden-Württemberg (BaWü-Labs) nutzen ihre Erkenntnisse und geben neun Empfehlungen für die Fortführung von Reallaboren.

Reallabore sind in der Forschungslandschaft inzwischen sehr populär. Das Format steckt aber immer noch im Anfangsstadium, ist selbst noch mehr Experiment denn Labor. So fehlen Reallaboren häufig eine langfristige Perspektive sowie eine gleichberechtigte Unterstützung aus Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft. Das sich im Aufbau befindende Karlsruher Transformationszentrum zeigt, wie diese Schwächen behoben werden und Reallabore langfristig sozial-ökologische Transformationen gestalten können.