Transformation Towards Sustainability A Novel Interdisciplinary Framework from RWTH Aachen University

The global environmental crisis, technological developments, the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing economic and political globalization are just a few of the developments that are massively increasing the pressure for transformation on regions, companies and society as a whole.

The global environmental crisis, technological developments, the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing economic and political globalization are just a few of the developments that are massively increasing the pressure for transformation on regions, companies and society as a whole. In addition, the digital age is accelerating transformation processes that are already underway. This contributed book addresses these developments and presents a novel framework for transformation research and practice, which has been developed and already validated at RWTH Aachen University. The RWTH way includes inter- and transdisciplinary approaches from many disciplines, looking at technological and societal change from different perspectives. A distinction is made between analysis, i.e., research on transformation processes, impact, i.e., transformational research, and change in research itself, i.e. research transformation. The book not only creates a new understanding of transformation research, but also provides actionable impulses for scholars and practitioners in many fields.
This is an open access book.


The global environmental crisis, technological developments, the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing economic and political globalization are just a few of the developments that are massively increasing the pressure for transformation on regions, companies and society as a whole. In addition, the digital age is accelerating transformation processes that are already underway. This contributed book addresses these developments and presents a novel framework for transformation research and practice, which has been developed and already validated at RWTH Aachen University. The RWTH way includes inter- and transdisciplinary approaches from many disciplines, looking at technological and societal change from different perspectives. A distinction is made between analysis, i.e., research on transformation processes, impact, i.e., transformational research, and change in research itself, i.e. research transformation. The book not only creates a new understanding of transformation research, but also provides actionable impulses for scholars and practitioners in many fields.
This is an open access book.