Transformative missions as part of sustainability research programmes: experiences from the German FONA framework programme

The research framework programme for sustainability (FONA) has been at the centre of a global-challenge-driven research policy in Germany. FONA focusses mostly on various environmental challenges, but has also been associated with a more instrumental mission in the form of introducing sustainability science into the research system. From the lens of a conventional evaluation approach, empirical evidence shows substantial success in terms of the outcome of research for sustainability. However, the impact on sustainability transformations is difficult to assess. From a multi-level perspective (MLP), FONA has achieved some success in terms of establishing sustainability as a niche within the science system. This has come at the cost of compromising the sustainability research mode somewhat by shifting the focus more towards disciplinary-oriented scientific publication output. In order to further improve the impact of research on sustainability transformations, three steps appear to be necessary. Firstly, sustainability research criteria must become mainstream in the research system, e.g., with regard to institutional funding of research organisations. Secondly, there must be discussion around adapting how the quality of research is defined. This will help to make directionality-driven research and the corresponding sustainability research modes a more accepted part of the research system. Thirdly, a methodology must be developed to better assess the impacts of sustainability research on future sustainability transformations. A promising approach is to link qualitatively-oriented evaluation methodologies with more quantitatively-based and foresight-orientated methodologies.