Current attention is focussed on four selected scientific disciplines and correspondingly on four sectors of society:
- Ecology – Environmental sector
- Medical and Health Sciences – Health sector
- Planning Science – Planning sector
- Economics – Economy sector
All disciplines have their own concepts, bodies of knowledge, methods and tools. The sectors also differ with respect to their objectives, implementations and governance.
For a successful cooperation these different traditions and ways of working need to be understood and respected.
In this context, there is great interest in established approaches to “building bridges”. These include so-called Integrated Programs, e.g. “Healthy Cities”, “Socially Integrative Cities” or “Agenda 21”.