SENTITS kicks off with a focus on transformative research and innovation

The SENTITS project has kicked off following its approval under the Catalan Government’s RIS3CAT 2030 programme, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The project aims to contribute to the systemic transformation of the territory through research and innovation actions in key areas in which ISGlobal has solid expertise: planetary health, urban health, and preparedness and resilience to health and climate-related crises.

SENTITS is based on a different way of connecting research with the territory. Through co-creation, citizen science and multi-stakeholder collaboration, the project seeks to bring together researchers, public administrations, civil society and other local actors to identify challenges and develop solutions that respond to real needs.

“Territorial actors identify a collective need, while universities and research centres contribute the scientific knowledge and resources needed to respond, with the final aim of generating systemic transformations” explains Josep M. Antó, who played a key role in developing the project proposal.

From territorial challenges to transformative action

SENTITS will work through two closely interconnected lines of action.

The first will support the development and scaling up of transformative research and innovation activities addressing challenges identified with the actors in the territory. These actions will build on existing research and collaborations and use participatory approaches to co-design, test and evaluate solutions in real-world settings. The work will focus particularly on areas such as community and planetary health, sustainable mobility, and urban resilience and climate adaptation.

The second line of action is the creation of the Laboratory for Transformative Social Innovation (LIST), which will provide a common structure to coordinate and support the activities. This also includes providing methodological support, facilitating shared agendas and partnerships, and monitoring the progress and impact of the actions.

“Our Impact Unit is well placed to help coordinate the different research and translation teams in ISGlobal that are already working with local actors in planetary health, urban health and preparedness and resilience,” says Adelaida Sarukhan, SENTITS coordinator. “By responding to local needs and engaging with other centres in shared agendas, we can develop and scale up transformative actions that generate meaningful changes in the territory.”

SENTITS will run until December 2028.