Too big not to fail? Über Design und Ausführung von inter- und transdisziplinärer Forschung am Beispiel des Großprojekts ENavi

Gesamtgesellschaftliche Veränderungsprozesse wie die Energiewende rufen nach der Einbindung möglichst vieler unterschiedlicher gesellschaftlicher Akteure im ganzen Land. Inter- und transdisziplinäre Großprojekte zur Erforschung und Unterstützung einer derart weit gefassten Aufgabe stoßen dabei an ihre Grenzen, wie die Erfahrung des Kopernikus-Projekts Energiewende-Navigationssystem (ENavi) zeigt.This design report reflects the inter- and transdisciplinary cooperation challenges of a large-scale research project that was lacking a designated problem and project constitution phase. Using the example of the Kopernikus project Energy Transition Navigation System (ENavi), we describe the challenges ‐ the high number and strong heterogeneity of the project participants combined with the large size of the spatial frame of reference ‐ which created particularly difficult conditions for inter- and transdisciplinary cooperation. We also highlight the role that funding conditions played in this situation. Specifically, we explain the particular challenges that the ENavi project faced in its efforts to achieve a common orientation, integration, and practice-actor participation as fundamental requirements for an inter- and trans-disciplinary research project. We also outline the approaches to solutions for these challenges developed by the project. Finally, we draw a number of lessons from the ENavi experience for inter-and transdisciplinary research regarding large-scale projects.