With the Berlin University Alliance (BUA), Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin), Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin), and Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin are pursuing the ambitious joint goal of creating an integrated research environment dedicated to addressing global grand challenges, among other priorities.

Identified in a participative process between science and society, the third BUA Grand Challenge Initiative, addresses the challenge of Responsible Innovation in Times of Transformation. In times of overlapping and interlinked societal challenges, research on sustainable innovations is as much needed as research on implementation and transformation processes for noticeable changes and successful renewals in society.

By funding exploration pilots on the topic of Responsible Innovation in Times of Transformation, the BUA strives to further strengthen Berlin as a center of cutting-edge research by exploring innovation as a means for adaption and prevention in times of major challenges. Grand Challenges of this kind can, presumably, only be addressed through integrated, innovative and creative research collaborations between research, society, politics, economy, and culture.

Accordingly, the BUA awards funding to high-risk collaborations that focus on innovative methods, questions, directions and formats and integrate the expertise of multiple disciplines and practices.