Bridging Systems Research and Practice

Through systems mapping and co-design, we help build shared understandings, visions and actions among people – no matter how distant they feel from each other.

With systems mapping and co-design, we coordinate to address collective problems, overcome polarization, create cohesive communities, and build desirable futures.

What are systems mapping and systems co-design?

Systems mapping helps visualize the patterns of interdependence and change. These patterns are key to understanding problems and finding creative ways to address them.

Systems co-design helps collectively visualize and prioritize what and how to change to address complex problems. It helps build, implement, assess and adapt processes of change.

Which domains are systems mapping and co-design suitable for?

We applied systems mapping and co-design within companies, local and national governments, international organizations, and within civil society organizations. 

Systems mapping & co-design works best in multi-stakeholder settings and across sectors, where multiple disciplines and ways of knowing meet.

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In Partnership With:

  1. Academy of Management (ONE and SIM Divisions) Our Lab contributed to organize the AoM ‘Research Methods for Sustainability’ Seminar Series 2026 | More here

  2. African Food Fellowship Our Lab developed and implemented a systemic action research project with 15 agri-food leaders across Kenya in 2025 | More here

  3. Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Our lab advised and received funding from the NL-CGIAR Program through the ‘Entrepreneurial Learning in Inclusive Agribusiness’ initiative | More here

  4. Climate KIC Our Lab developed a research framework for UNIDO’s ‘Global Resilient Industry Initiative’ in collaboration with Climate KIC | More here

  5. Ecole Polytechnique de Paris Our Lab organized a workshop on systems thinking, mapping, and change for the Technology for Change Forum 2024 in collaboration with Accenture | More here

  6. ESADE Business School Our Lab teaches Complexity & Systems Thinking in ESADE’s Master of Science in Sustainability Management | More here

  7. European Commission Horizon Europe Our Lab received funding for developing and implementing a cross-scale, systems-based Theory of Change process in the ENFASYS Project in 2022-2026 | More here

  8. European Group of Organization Studies (EGOS) Our Lab organizes research professional and paper development workshops on Systems Theory & Methods in the field of organization studies | More here

  9. European Innovation School for Sustainability (EIIS) Our Lab teaches courses on agri-food systems transformation and building circular ecosystems for managers and professionals | More here

  10. IKEA Foundation Our Lab contributed to the African Food Fellowship Program with a systemic action research project in collaboration with Wageningen University & Research in 2025 | More here

  11. INSEAD Our Lab contributed to develop and teach the INSEAD ‘Systems Leadership through Nature’ Program in 2026 | More here

  12. International Farming Systems Association (IFSA) Our Lab organized the PhD Summer School on “Systems Approaches to Sustainability Transformations” in 2026 | More here

  13. International center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (IAMM) Our Lab collaborated to the organization of the International Farming Systems Association 2026 conference PhD Summer School | More here

  14. Dutch Scientific Council (NWO) Our Lab advises and receives funding as part of the NL-CGIAR Senior Expert Program on systems approaches to scaling, entrepreneurship, and private sector engagement in agri-food | More here

  15. United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Our Lab developed a scientific framework on cross-scale resilience and transformation for the ‘Global Resilient Industry Initiative’ in 2026 | More here

  16. United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Our Lab developed a systems-based methodology for Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) resilience and sustainable transitions | More here

  17. Wageningen University & Research Our Lab teaches and advises on systems thinking, mapping and change in the global agri-food sector in Master of Science, MBA and Doctoral Programs | More here

  18. WorldFish Our Lab advised to develop a systems-based approach to understanding, steering and guiding change in aquatic foods | More here