CAPTURE Newsletter September 2023

Navigating Super Wicked Challenges: Insights from CAPTURE days 2023

The CAPTURE days of 2023, held at the U-residence of VUB Brussels, were addressing the so-called "super wicked challenges" in the strategies of various organizations. In essence, these ?challenges are defined by uncertainty in their outcomes, requiring the integration of multiple stakeholders and factors, and proving difficult to tackle due to the unpredictability of potential outcomes and scenarios. Think of climate change, sustainability, and circularity as prime examples of these complex issues. These days are organized to facilitate high level discussions for the entire CAPTURE community to reflect on the role of technology development in/for current societal challenges. Technical sessions per pipeline are only a minor part of these days as the CO2 Bazaar (December 14, 2023), and the water pipeline day (February 15, 2024) facilitate these needs.

The interaction commenced with a debate exploring how academic leaders perceive and approach these challenges. Three key conclusions emerged:

1. A first insight is that collaboration is paramount. A wealth of wisdom exists dispersed among individuals, yet it remains unconnected. Therefore, the establishment of information networks that amalgamate these insights becomes an essential initial step. This entails not only fostering cross-sector collaboration, such as between academics and industrial actors, but also promoting interdisciplinary partnerships. Solutions do not exclusively emerge from novel technologies; they may also arise from legal, sociological, economic, psychological, and other approaches.
2. This leads to the second conclusion, which emphasizes the necessity of integrating all these disciplines into a unified framework for reflection. Mission-oriented approaches offer promise in this regard, as they identify thematic challenges on or beyond the horizon and outline potential transition paths and collaborations required to attain these objectives. An intriguing point to highlight is the importance of maintaining a balance that preserves the element of serendipity in basic research, as this too constitutes a fundamental component in addressing complex problems.
3. A third conclusion was also shared by company representatives during the second day of the event. ?Several industry speakers emphasized that confronting these challenges requires organizational reinvention, with peripheral issues transitioning to the core of their business operations. Valuable insights were offered on how companies are formulating new business models and strategic roadmaps to address these challenges. The use of scenario planning to navigate uncertainties along the journey proved inspiring. Furthermore, the need for an integrated approach to superwicked challenges was discussed extensively. This is not only in an interdisciplinary way, but also by integrating insights on: ?supportive infrastructure, technological advancements and scaling up, techno-economic assessments, insights into economic developments, a supportive policy framework, ecosystem-based approaches, and more. The task ahead is indeed substantial.

Two recurring themes throughout the CAPTURE days that warrant reflection revolve around the concept of value. Firstly, during the sustainable development debate, the focus was on value creation. When contemplating products, services, processes, and the like, the primary question should not be whether these can be made circular or sustainable. Instead, the initial consideration should revolve around (1) whether they add value and (2) around an assessment of the associated costs and benefits.

This assessment of course extends beyond purely economic factors and encompasses societal considerations. As demonstrated in the debates, and as evident in public discussions, finding definitive answers can be challenging. However, it is valuable to embark on this journey with curiosity and a willingness to understand opposing viewpoints. These debates highlighted that such an approach enriches our personal frameworks for reflection. Secondly, the theme of value extends to the need to address uncertainty, a characteristic of sustainability challenges. More discussions and reflections on future sustainable and circular value chains are imperative. The session on the reuse and recycling of plastics illustrated that the integration of ideas from all relevant stakeholders within a shared value chain is mutually beneficial. This process begins with academics, industry stakeholders, and policymakers reaching out and collaborating.

To conclude, as emphasized in the sustainable development debate, it all commences with the 17th Sustainable Development Goal: partnerships. Or: "Together We Become Circular". Thank you for reaching out!