Technology alone cannot solve complex problems. To advance knowledge, we must also understand the social, ethical, contextual, and organisational dimensions of technological change.
A societally relevant research agenda
The distinctive strength of TIOS lies in its interdisciplinary approach. Technology alone cannot solve today’s complex societal challenges. We recognize the need to bring our diverse expertise together, both in terms of disciplines and methodologies. We want to increase the impact of our research. By collaborating and joining forces across projects, we can achieve this.
Head of research group
Members
More about the research group
Our research focus: Interdisciplinary perspectives on technology
TIOS is uniquely equipped to meet the need for research on technology and particularly digital to solve societal challenges through our interdisciplinarity and diversity - spanning technology, sustainability, ethics, business, and digital transformation.
This is a real strength and a competitive ability. It enables research to bridge gaps, foster innovation, and tackle complex problems no single field can solve alone. Our research focus includes both fundamental and applied topics, such as:
- Human centric and responsible artificial intelligence (AI)
- Digital innovation, value creation and competitiveness
- Sustainable transitions and digital transformation
- Digital technology in welfare
- Competence development and life-long learning in organisation and society
Research methods: Embracing complementarity
TIOS brings together researchers from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, including social sciences, computer science, innovation studies, business and sustainability science.
Our methodological approach is deliberately pluralistic and integrative. We combine qualitative methods, such as interviews, documents, ethnography, and participatory design, with quantitative methods, including surveys, statistical modelling, and data analytics.
This mixed methods approach allows us to investigate complex socio-technical phenomena from multiple angles.
Our complementarity is especially important when addressing complex challenges such as sustainability transitions and the societal impact of emerging technologies like generative AI. These issues require both a human-centred understanding and robust, data-informed analysis.
By integrating these approaches, the research group contributes to generating deep insights as well as generalizable knowledge that can support informed decision-making.
Research based on broad collaboration
TIOS collaborates with partners from academia, industry, and the public and municipal sectors, both nationally and internationally, to generate and share cutting-edge knowledge that supports research, innovation, and societal development.
Projects
- AI-Enhanced Web Application for Sámi Cultural and Language Preservation. Period: June 2025 - Nov. 2025. Contact: Baifan Zhou.
- Impact of Generative AI in Higher Education. Contact: Akif Q. Khan.
- From Silos to Synergy: Designing Collaborative Futures in Innovation & Sustainability through broad collaboration. Contact: Siw Fosstenløkken.
PhD projects
- Sustainable leadership, innovation and gouvernmental working life in the face of generative artificial intelligence (prosjektbanken.forskningsradet.no). Contact: Klaus Verner Breivik.
- Digital welfare for citizens with complex challenges. Contact: Maja Åskov Tengstedt.
- Promoting Gender Inclusivity in Digital Innovation Ecosystems. Contact: Ayanna Samuels.
