ABSTRACT
Chapter 5 aims to take a fresh look at the question of the institutionalization of transdisciplinary research partnerships into larger organizational structures for research capacity building. Based on the now classical synthesis by Oliver Williamson of the key economic aspects of the governance of organizational networks and hierarchies, the chapter outlines the design principles of a flexible network architecture as a better fit to the requirements of transdisciplinary research. In particular, the analysis of nested polycentric networks in the chapter identifies three core enabling functions that characterize capacity building for transdisciplinary research: (1) the organization of knowledge exchange across disciplinary boundaries and types of societal actor partnerships; (2) co-production with societal actors of transdisciplinary training formats allowing the acquisition of competencies for collaboration and negotiation of societal values; and (3) social networking around co-produced research topics with societal actors. These enabling functions are illustrated through examples from Institutions for Higher Education and emerging regional and global research alliances for transdisciplinary research.
