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How can we better align and accelerate the energy transition, the transition to a circular economy and the transition to more preventive public health in the built environment? Within the new AMBITIONS research project, researchers from the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� are joining forces with the TU Delft Design for Values Institute (TPM and IDE faculties), the ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� of Twente, Avans ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� of Applied Sciences, and public and private partners. They will identify values associated with these transitions and will develop tools that can accelerate such changes.

Values as accelerator of transitions

The built environment is central to several societal transitions. These transitions are closely intertwined but also represent diverse and sometimes even conflicting public values. This leads to difficult choices for local actors: how do you shape a future-proof living environment when values clash or are difficult to realise? How do you realise public values when organisations and individuals are also driven by other (often conflicting) values?

The AMBITIONS consortium is investigating how values can be better aligned to accelerate transitions and to scale up (innovative) interventions and solutions in the built environment. “We want to contribute to an integrated approach for transitions in the built environment, in which public, organisational and individual values reinforce each other rather than working against each other,” says project leader prof. dr. ir. Ibo van de Poel from TU Delft.

We want to contribute to an integrated approach for transitions in the built environment, in which public, organisational and individual values reinforce each other rather than working against each other

Three areas of tension

The research focuses on three important underlying value tensions that influence the pace of transitions:

1. Between levels of government: how do national, regional and local policy objectives and values relate to each other?
2. Between public values: what happens when values from different transitions clash?
3. Between public values, organizational and individual values: how do you deal with tensions between societal values and those of organisations and individuals?

“By gaining a better understanding of these tensions, the consortium aims to contribute to a better alignment of values in order to accelerate transitions,” says Van De Poel. “This will also enable us to develop strategies and tools that will allow the design and implementation of innovative solutions in a more efficient way. In addition to the built environment, this knowledge and these tools can also be valuable for transitions in other contexts and domains.”

Broad collaboration

The AMBITIONS consortium consists of a wide range of public and private partners. This collaboration makes it possible to conduct in-depth analyses at various administrative levels and to develop support mechanisms that accelerate transition processes. In addition to scientific insights, the project also provides practical tools, policy recommendations and a network of partners who exchange knowledge and experiences. From Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ��, prof. dr. Wouter Boon and dr. ir. Matthijs Janssen from the Copernicus Institute are involved in the project. From TU Delft, prof. dr. ir. Ibo van de Poel, dr. Martijn Wiarda, and dr. Marina Bos-de Vos lead the project. From the ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� of Twente, prof. dr. ir. Leentje Volker and dr. ir. Tom Coenen, and from Avans ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� of Applied Sciences, senior researcher Elena Lomeli Aguirre.

In addition to these knowledge institutions, other (network) organisations committed to these transitions in the built environment are part of the AMBITIONS consortium, such as governments, designers and Topconsortia Knowledge and Innovation (TKI). These are YAGHMA, Building changes, MakeDay, WeBoost, Copper8, Talent voor Transitie, Kuijpers, Bouwcampus, Pioneering, Cirkelstad, TKI Bouw en Techniek, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, on behalf of the State Secretaries of the Ministries of Housing and special planning, Interior and Kingdom relations, Economic affairs, Health, welfare and sport, Infrastructure and water management, the Municipality of Utrecht as part of the Data and Knowledge Hub for Healthy Urban Living, Province of Gelderland, Noaberkracht (collaboration between the municipalities of Tubbergen and Dinkelland), Municipality of Losser, Top Sector Energy - System integration, TKI Urban Energy, ERAcontour, Province of South Holland, Province of Utrecht, Province of North Brabant, Municipality of Enschede, Municipality of Hengelo, Municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch, Climate Academy Rotterdam.