Abstract

The sustainability concept emphasizes the need for economic, social, and environmental balance for present and future generations. Finite natural resources and the necessity of ecological preservation heighten its significance. Additionally, it is vital for human development, especially in social and economic equity.
Research and innovation (R&I) have driven technological progress for 250 years, transforming scientific knowledge into innovations that foster economic growth and societal improvement. By fostering innovative solutions and responsible practices, R&I is integral to achieving a sustainable future.
Sustainability assessment methods can identify optimal sustainable innovations across value chains. However, aligning R&I projects with sustainability goals necessitates fully integrating sustainability into management practices. We define 'sustainable R&I management' as ‘overseeing R&I with a focus on achieving long-term benefits while promoting environmental, social, and economic advantages’. This approach incorporates sustainability principles into research management, from project ideation and selection to management, administration, and execution.
Prioritizing sustainability in R&I funding and performance still poses significant challenges. In particular, there is a lack of standardized methods for project selection based on their sustainability, which hinders potential benefits for the environment, economy, and society at large. Thus, a new method is proposed to enhance project selection by merging multicriteria decision-making methods with industry standards for sustainability in project management. The method's effectiveness is demonstrated through a case study.
Funding bodies and research organizations can use this method to select R&I proposals that comprehensively address sustainability ‘by’ and ‘of’ the project. Furthermore, research managers and administrators can leverage it to assist researchers in crafting R&I proposals committed to a sustainable future.
Learning Outcomes:
- Sustainability, in all its dimensions, must be incorporated in R&I project proposal development and selection.
- An innovative methodology is proposed to successfully achieve this, which considers often intangible or difficult-to-quantify sustainability dimensions (e.g., social dynamics).
- Research managers and administrators at science funding and research-performing organizations can leverage the proposed method to select and develop R&I proposals that ultimately lead to a sustainable future for all.