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The Swiss platform for sustainable development research in brief

What is the long-term goal of swiss-sdr?

Our objectives are primarily networking, knowledge exchange, and improved visibility of sustainable development research in Switzerland. Swiss-sdr aims to bring together all researchers in Switzerland active in the field of sustainable development. Young researchers are encouraged to present their projects on the platform and to participate in an interdisciplinary discourse. Researchers already established in the field are invited to present their research projects, activities, events, and experiences.

The platform enables researchers in Switzerland to take part in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary exchange, connect with interested actors, and carry out innovative and coherent research, thus contributing to the transformation of society with results and action research.

Reflecting on the meaning of sustainable development

Through interdisciplinary exchange, the platform encourages researchers to reflect on the importance of sustainable development in their own topics. It encourages the debate on a common understanding of sustainable development and invites contributions to normative questions.

Comprehensive representation and overview

Content moderation and technical support are provided, ensuring a comprehensive representation of sustainability-related topics and an overview of the diversity of sustainable development research. Provides opportunities for the integration of sustainable development into education, research, and innovation as outlined in Action area 6 of the Swiss Federal Council’s Sustainable Development Strategy 2016–2019.

Introducing and promoting the platform 

We aim to involve around 1000 Swiss researchers. To achieve this, the potential of swiss-sdr will be presented at various universities, e.g. University Days, seminars, workshops, and other research and teaching activities in the field of ustainable development. During presentations, the platform’s potential in terms of content and technical aspects will be discussed, and user experiences recorded. Participating researchers are encouraged to actively take part in further developing the platform. Focusing the content on the topic of sustainability should also improve visibility of a highly relevant and complex scientific field.

Members and partners

We aim to attract all relevant research organizations (universities, technical colleges, teacher training colleges, and other research institutions) as members and partners of swiss-sdr. Full participation will enable an up-to-date overview of all Swiss research activities, enabling the platform to fulfil its purpose of strengthening the contribution of research to sustainable development. Research organizations will benefit from access to an overview of projects, participations, and researchers for comparative purposes.

Promoting young researchers

An important aspect of the platform is its indirect support of the new generation of researchers, by providing opportunities to establish contacts, and obtain inputs from, beyond the researcher's own university and topic. The platform also presents opportunities for project co-operation, employment, and mentoring, by acting as a job forum, talent pool, and career springboard.

Innovation

By linking topics, projects, people, and organizations, the platform will act as a breeding ground for new research questions which would otherwise not arise. The platform will thus be an incubator for innovative approaches and ideas.

Potential

The platform has the potential to create synergies and new questions and topics for research. It can also promote inter- and transdisciplinary research cooperation.

Open Source

The research platform is also committed to sustainability, and therefore uses open-source standards where possible.