214
H. Kanning et al.
application-oriented research is explicitly mentioned in the association’s statutory
objectives. However, whether or to what extent these institutions for real-world laboratories must always have a scientific character is not deemed absolutely necessary
in the previous discussion. Instead, the association focuses primarily on practical
orientation and on the search for practicable approaches towards sustainable development in its areas of interest; in the process, analytical work and the consideration
of internal scientific interests are accepted as prerequisites for joint research and
Table 11.1 A comparison of the core characteristics and real-world laboratories undertaken by
Energieavantgarde Anhalt (authors’ compilation)
Core characteristics Real-world laboratories
…
Anhalt real-world
laboratory as a whole
Urban laboratories in
the project “The
re-productive town”
Research
orientation
… act as scientific
facilities in
sustainability and
transformation
research 1
Not necessarily,
focuses on practical
orientation
✓
Research closely
oriented to practice
Normativity
… are oriented towards
the principles of
sustainable
development 1
✓
✓
Transdisciplinarity … function in a
transdisciplinary way
They directly connect
science and society
(practitioner
stakeholders) and use
forms and methods of
transdisciplinary
research in their
experiments 1
✓
✓
Transformativity
… conduct
transformative
research. They are
hybrid undertakings
that aim to
concurrently achieve
scientific findings and
social design. They
facilitate sustainability
research and
simultaneously make
experimental
contributions to
sustainable
development 1
✓
✓
(continued)
H. Kanning et al.
application-oriented research is explicitly mentioned in the association’s statutory
objectives. However, whether or to what extent these institutions for real-world laboratories must always have a scientific character is not deemed absolutely necessary
in the previous discussion. Instead, the association focuses primarily on practical
orientation and on the search for practicable approaches towards sustainable development in its areas of interest; in the process, analytical work and the consideration
of internal scientific interests are accepted as prerequisites for joint research and
Table 11.1 A comparison of the core characteristics and real-world laboratories undertaken by
Energieavantgarde Anhalt (authors’ compilation)
Core characteristics Real-world laboratories
…
Anhalt real-world
laboratory as a whole
Urban laboratories in
the project “The
re-productive town”
Research
orientation
… act as scientific
facilities in
sustainability and
transformation
research 1
Not necessarily,
focuses on practical
orientation
✓
Research closely
oriented to practice
Normativity
… are oriented towards
the principles of
sustainable
development 1
✓
✓
Transdisciplinarity … function in a
transdisciplinary way
They directly connect
science and society
(practitioner
stakeholders) and use
forms and methods of
transdisciplinary
research in their
experiments 1
✓
✓
Transformativity
… conduct
transformative
research. They are
hybrid undertakings
that aim to
concurrently achieve
scientific findings and
social design. They
facilitate sustainability
research and
simultaneously make
experimental
contributions to
sustainable
development 1
✓
✓
(continued)