Issues such as climate change, digitalisation and a healthy living environment pose major challenges for society as a whole. Innovation is needed to tackle these challenges. After all, there are plenty of new inventions, but they only lead to innovation and solutions when they are actually put to use. All too often, technological improvements get stuck because they are not sufficiently aligned with people, policy or practice.
To bring about change in this regard, it is important for researchers from all scientific disciplines to come together with businesses and civil society organisations. We can make more progress by taking a socio-cultural perspective on technological solutions: this is also known as ‘integrated innovation’. This is at the heart of the National Action Plan for Integrated Innovation, which was published in the summer of 2026. The link between innovation and research can be strengthened and improved, and this requires us to organise our thought processes more effectively.
For researchers at Radboud University, integrated innovation has long been an intrinsic part of their research agenda. Lawyers, psychologists, economists, linguists and other academics from a wide range of disciplines scrutinise processes to help society move forward. Within the university, for example, a great deal of research is being carried out into the successes and failures of past change processes, and into innovation both within and between organisations. We also have in-house expertise in the social and ecological embedding of innovations, as well as their societal acceptance and implementation.
Questions? Get in touch!
Companies, civil society organisations and other partners wishing to engage in dialogue with researchers at Radboud University to learn more about what we have to offer in the field of integrated innovation can contact Enny Das or Jasper Krommendijk. Researchers active at this interface who would also like to contribute are welcome to get in touch to share their ideas. Over the coming months and years, we will be developing a university-wide approach to integrated innovation, because only by working together can we contribute to a future-proof society.
Discover current research
Examples of integrated innovation can be found all over the Radboud University campus. Take a look at some recent projects and examples below, or get in touch if you’re curious to find out whether there’s anything happening in your sector.
