Imagine a space where academic knowledge meets real-world challenges, and collaboration drives innovation. That’s the essence of transdisciplinarity, where non-academic actors play an active role in creating solutions for complex issues. At CiD, we embrace this approach through six cutting-edge observatories designed to bridge education, research, and society.
Our network includes:
- Three Local Observatories in Hannover, Genoa, and Barcelona, each addressing local and regional priorities.
- Three European Observatories, specializing in circular economy, urban transformation, and bio-based innovation.

What makes our observatories unique?
These observatories are more than just think tanks—they are action hubs that identify market needs, skills mismatches, and drive professional innovation. By building a network of up to 100 diverse stakeholders, they facilitate the connection between classrooms and labs with the real-world challenges of industries, public administrations, and communities.
What do the observatories achieve?
The Observatories are the backbone of the CiD Innovation Ecosystem, delivering:
- Challenge frameworks that spark co-creation, knowledge sharing, and hands-on learning.
- Skill identification to prepare students for the demands of tomorrow’s workforce.
- Ongoing evaluation of educational programs, ensuring relevance and impact.
A closer look at our observatories
1. Local, Regional, and National Observatories
Situated in Hannover, Barcelona, and Genoa, these observatories bring together:
- SMEs specializing in urban planning, architecture, and design.
- Key players from the construction and real estate industries.
- Public bodies and local administrations.
- NGOs driving cultural and urban change.
2. EU-Level Observatories
Focusing on Europe-wide priorities, these observatories address:
- Circular economy and sustainable business models.
- Climate-neutral urban transformation.
- Bio-based innovation.
They connect: - SMEs and vibrant startup communities.
- Academic and research leaders.
- Industry representatives, particularly in construction.
- Public institutions.
- NGOs and pan-European networks.
Why transdisciplinarity matters
Transdisciplinarity isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a proven approach to tackling the world’s most pressing challenges. The complexity of circular economy and design challenges makes them inherently transdisciplinary, requiring the integration of knowledge, expertise, and perspectives from various fields to create sustainable, scalable solutions.
By considering environmental, economic, and social factors, transdisciplinary approaches build resilience in circular systems. This means developing solutions that not only reduce environmental impact but also enhance social equity and economic viability, creating a truly sustainable future.
Transdisciplinary approaches facilitate the design of systems and solutions that can be scaled and adapted globally. By drawing on insights from multiple fields, these solutions have a higher likelihood of success when applied in different contexts.

Would you like to join an observatory?
Join us to innovate in training and research in urbanism, architecture, and design, focusing on circular economy, climate-neutral urban transformation, and bio-innovation.