The international community of researchers dedicated to sustainable transitions[1] defines research in this field as primarily focusing on the meso level of sociotechnical systems. Their aim is to elucidate how radical changes occur within these systems over time and space, determine the roles undertaken by various actors, and understand how transitions are distributed across society. However, by emphasizing socio-technical regimes, researchers tend to overlook broader macro perspectives, such as the influence of capitalism on these transformative processes, as well as more nuanced micro perspectives, including the impact of changing societal perceptions. As a result of this emphasis on the socio-technical system as the unit of analysis, transition studies tend to develop perspectives primarily centered around technologies and their significance. Despite the intention to incorporate these technologies into a comprehensive framework encompassing economic, social, cultural, political, and scientific interconnections, the consequences are that other vital dimensions may be overshadowed.

In contrast, adopting a perspective of socio-ecological transformations, inspired by Andrew Stirling’s  work[2] on a more constructivist approach to change, enables us to redirect our attention away from the meso level, which primarily examines innovation dynamics. Instead, it allows us to reintegrate the social, societal, and personal dimensions into the structural reforms of our societies. By focusing on transformations, we gain a more comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between the macro, meso, and micro levels, which are essential in analyzing the radical societal restructuring processes that the Institute's research explores.

Taking into consideration the expertise and research interests of iiTSE members in winter 2022, four thematic areas have been identified. These areas aim to facilitate organization based on affinity and address the imperative of comprehending the profound societal transformations by exploring the diverse dynamics that shape them, spanning micro, meso, and macro levels.

[1] Köhler, Jonathan, Frank W. Geels, Florian Kern, Jochen Markard, Elsie Onsongo, Anna Wieczorek, Floortje Alkemade, et al. « An Agenda for Sustainability Transitions Research: State of the Art and Future Directions ». Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions 31 (1 juin 2019): 1‑32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2019.01.004.

[2] Stirling, Andy. Emancipating Transformations: From Controlling ‘The Transition’ To Culturing Plural Radical Progress, 2014.

The Institute adopts as light a structure as possible. The objective is to create a dynamic and a framework for interaction that is not overburdened from the outset. The structures adopted are not fixed in time and can be adapted with the help of its members and in particular according to the evolution of the missions and objectives pursued.

The missions, objectives and strategic orientations are defined by the Collective Assembly composed of its members and associate members. It meets at least twice a year to discuss and decide on the Institute's precise work program for the coming period, and to evaluate the activities previously organized in a reflexive perspective. Decisions are taken in a collegial manner and preferably by consensus. If a vote is necessary, only the members have the right to vote.

The members belong to the academic body of the ULB.
Associate members belong to the scientific, student and administrative, technical and management (ATGS in french) bodies of the ULB.
External associate members are persons outside ULB.

Members, associate members and external associate members of the Institute may be any researcher from any research group (service or research unit or department) who develops - or wishes to develop - through his or her research a perspective that crosses societal and environmental issues while adhering to interdisciplinarity as a mode of scientific investigation.  The integration of a member is done upon a motivated request of the future member to the Board; in the case of an external associate member, the request must be sponsored by a member.

The Collective Assembly delegates the implementation of decisions to the Institute's Board (Bureau). This is made up of the research logistician and five to seven individual members from different ULB research units/departments, and as far as possible from different disciplines or faculties. Board members are appointed for a renewable three-year term, and are subject to a vote by the Collective Assembly on the basis of a nomination. Should a member of the Board wish to resign from the current term of office, he/she must inform the co-presidents, preferably with a proposal for a replacement, ideally from the same faculty, to complete the term in his/her place, a proposal which must then be approved by the Board. The Board is made up of two co-presidents, who represent the Institute both within and outside ULB, and act as intermediaries with the authorities. Day-to-day management of the Institute's activities is delegated to the research logistician.

For the period 2022-2025, the board is composed of Catherine Bouland (ESP-ULB), Luisa Moretto (ARCHI-ULB), Nicolas Schroeder (Phisoc), Samia Ben Rajeb (Polytech), Tom Bauler (Sciences), Marek Hudon (Solvay) and Fanny Vrydagh (research manager and coordinator). The presidents of iiTSE are Tom Bauler and Marek Hudon.