Advancing Transdisciplinary Research for Global Development: Crisis, Collaboration, and Change.

The Solution-Oriented Research for Development (SOR4D) Research Conference 2026 will take place from 31 August to 1 September 2026 in Bern, Switzerland. This conference will convene researchers, practitioners and development professionals to address the theme ‘Advancing Transdisciplinary Research for Global Development: Crisis, Collaboration, and Change.’

The conference aims to foster dialogue and knowledge exchange on how transdisciplinary approaches can generate impactful solutions to complex global challenges, including climate change, inequality, and geopolitical crises. Participants will engage in discussions on integrating diverse knowledge systems, designing research for transformative impact, and scaling local innovations to achieve broader development outcomes. The conference is expected to draw a large audience from researchers and development actors familiar with transdisciplinary research, North-South partnerships, and international development.

Call for Submissions

Submissions for presentations, roundtables, and workshops are invited from both academic and non-academic contributors. Proposals should align with the conference themes and objectives, and may address topics such as knowledge integration, partnership models, and strategies for scaling impact.

Further information and detailed guidelines are available in the call for contributions (PDF).

Submissions must be made online via the conference submissions form, no later than 19 January 2026.

_{Cover image by Equal Stock.}