Replicating projects for comparative research: Mistra Urban Futures’ experiences with comparative work on knowledge exchange, food and transport

Summary, in English

This chapter discusses three comparative projects that were all, at least partially, created through the replication of research across the Mistra Urban Futures cities. A typology of six possible models was developed, illustrating how comparative transdisciplinary knowledge co-production could take place across multiple cities, and the second of these approaches was identified as “local projects replicated”. This is where particular successful projects initiated in individual cities had been, or were intended to be, replicated in other cities, thus opening up possibilities for cross-city comparison. As it turned out, three Mistra Urban Futures comparative projects were partially or entirely based on projects that had been replicated in other cities: the knowledge exchange project, the suite of linked food comparative projects, and transport and sustainable urban development comparative project. This chapter draws on our practical experience in developing and implementing these comparative projects. First, we discuss the issue of “replication” and the different ways that this can occur. Second, we discuss the initial work on these themes (knowledge exchange, food, transport) which formed the basis for the development of these particular comparative projects. Third, we discuss the complex processes through which this work assembled into comparative projects. Finally, we reflect on the challenges and benefits of “replicating” projects for comparative research.