INIT seeks to provide an international platform for discussion and promotion of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, teaching, and policy. INIT will inventory existing understandings, facilitate and enhance communication, and stimulate new research.

This network was formed at a recent meeting in New York City, attended by representatives from the US-based Association for Integrative Studies (AIS), the European-based Transdisciplinarity-Net (td-net), and the Center for the Study of Interdisciplinarity (CSID) at the University of North Texas in the US. 

We launched INIT because the field of interdisciplinarity (ID) and transdisciplinarity (TD) is quite diversified, consisting of different subgroups with different strengths, emphases, applications, and perspectives. We envision INIT as facilitating communication and collaborative work among organizations, institutions, and individuals that view ID and TD as a vibrant way to respond to the challenges of 21st century society.

To further our mission, we are planning to hold seminars, workshops, and conferences to inaugurate this community and to develop a common agenda.