Insights and Reflections on “Research in Interaction”

The day started with an inspirational address by Per Mickwitz, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Lund University. Per highlighted the unique opportunities and challenges associated with research in interaction—research conducted in close partnership between academia and practice. He stressed the importance of integrity, mutual understanding, and adaptability in research that aims to address complex societal challenges and influence real-world systems.

“Doing research in interaction between academia and practice has challenges, but doing it without interactions is far more challenging,” Per noted, underlining the imperative of collaborative structures that bridge sectoral boundaries to drive meaningful, actionable outcomes.

Following Per’s opening remarks, interactive panels and group discussions delved into the varying perceptions of “Research in Interaction” within academia and practice. Participants explored the conditions and structures needed to facilitate and normalize this approach and reflected on the vital role SIRI can play in supporting collaboration and fostering mutual trust.

The symposium also featured presentations on several projects with a “Research in Interaction” approach aimed at generating actionable insights that can drive sustainable and inclusive change.  While still in an early stage, the showcased projects highlighted different areas and intervention points where close collaboration between academia and practice can take place, demonstrating the relevance of “Research in Interaction” across varied contexts.

Shaping SIRI’s Research Agenda

A key part of the symposium was a strategic review of SIRI's research agenda. 

This agenda is structured around four themes:

• Theme 1: Disruptive Times / Transformative Landscape
  Addressing system innovation and the dynamics of new industrial policies in an era of rapid global change.

• Theme 2: Entrepreneurial Experimentation and Transformation
  Emphasizing the role of entrepreneurial ecosystems, policy experimentation, and global value chains in driving sustainable change.

• Theme 3: Transformative Innovation Policy
  Focusing on policy design, instruments, and evaluation approaches that foster place-based, challenge-oriented innovations.

• Theme 4: Transformative Capabilities
  Investigating the capabilities needed across various sectors and actors to serve as transformative forces for systemic change.

Participants critically engaged with these themes, considering how ongoing projects align with them, identifying gaps, and offering ideas on how to refine the agenda in ways that are both flexible and impactful.

Looking Ahead

We extend our thanks to all participants for their insights and contributions. As SIRI looks ahead, these discussions will be crucial in shaping upcoming initiatives and expanding the platform’s reach. We look forward to hosting more events, broadening our community, and enhancing our collective potential to foster systems innovation for sustainable change.