Some people think sustainability is soft - this cannot be further from the truth. Sustainability is about changing entrenched powers structures, confronting existential threats, avoiding ecological collapse, re-imagining political systems, shifting economic priorities, preventing conflicts over natural resources, and fostering global cooperation. Sustainability is one of the hardest things we will ever do.

We often associate sustainability with cutting back. Indeed, nothing other than reducing consumption is sustainable. However, the process of designing a sustainable and principled economy also presents opportunities. What are the new ways to create value? How do we facilitate a just transition? We call this window of opportunity Sustainable Innovation (SI), and we believe that doing good can be profitable. We also use Sustainable Innovation as an umbrella term to encapsulate everything else beyond environmental sustainability or the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to give ourselves room to experiment.

As the central research body at Unbuilt Labs, we perform an exploratory and evaluative function. All of the activities, observations, and conversations at Unbuilt Labs are synthesized through the Sustainable Innovation Think Tank (SITT). Our research complements the global priorities identified at the Center for Global Agenda (CGA), and the implementation of ideas at the Venture Strategy Group (VSG). Together, they form our Global Think Tank Ecosystem.

On a tactical level, SITT distinguishes itself from traditional think tanks in several ways:

1. We understand that policy is only one of the many tools available to change-makers. Our research has a much broader scope, focusing on responding to the drivers behind global changes.

2. We engage a much wider range of stakeholders and draw expertise from industry, academia, as well as popular culture. We bring together a brilliant family of thinkers and creatives to address the most pressing challenges of our time.

3. While long term (5-10 years) macroeconomic trends and forecasts are valuable, we believe the world has gotten significantly more volatile. Early intervention or preventive action requires an understanding of the short (3-6 months) and medium-term (1-2 years) impact of disruptive trends and crises. We specialize in delivering actionable insights within those time-frames.

4. We do more than build theories. With the support of the Ecosystem, we examine ideas in action and receive feedback on our research. We test our information products much like you would with digital products - through rigorous user research and user testing methods.

Clients come to SITT for actionable insights to further the sustainable development agenda in impossible situations. To put it simply, you do not need us if best practices are already available. While we are practical and painfully aware of the challenges of doing good, we are also value-driven. We will not engage if we have reason to believe that the project will do more harm than good to the goal of shared peace and prosperity for all. Please see our Ethics Statement for details.

While we will never be the firm for every project, we always recommend potential clients to reach out regardless to grab a virtual coffee. With our vast network, we will be able to tell you during the first meeting several things:

1. Context: What is the state of the conversation?

2. Problem: What does emerging literature tell us? Is there a root cause to the challenge you missed?

3. Method: Does expertise within this area exist? What are the knowledge gaps? Can the challenge be resolved with more knowledge?

4. Results: What are some promising areas to look into? What might it be able to tell us and what are the limitations?

For new business inquiries, please email connect@UnbuiltLabs.com. Thank you for your interest!

Good research has many avenues to reach an audience, but researchers, academics, practitioners publish at the SITT Room because you know you are heard. You do not need to throw content into the void hoping that someone in a dark library will dig it up and find it useful. All of our publication informs our decision-making. They also feed directly into our work at the Center for Global Agenda (CGA). We publish perspectives that can impact the global agenda.

We are looking for articles that will not get published anywhere else - because they are too bold, too weird, too unpopular, etc., or because other publishers are not willing to give a young voice a chance. We are looking for publications that meet several criteria:

1. Use an academic theory to contextualize crises or disruptive trends in a creative way

2. Help formulate an understanding of what doing good means today

3. Provide clear, actionable insights

4. Bonus points: if an article is witty or an entertaining read

Crises unfold in real time and we need high quality insights to make informed decisions. We cannot wait until all the information is available before we act - by then it would be too late. As a result, a rule of thumb is that while traditional academic publishers look for perspectives beyond a shadow of doubt, we look for perspectives beyond a reasonable doubt. To be more specific, we are expecting to see research of the highest academic rigor within real world constraints on topics where preventive action is critical, and the need for quality insights justifies some speculative or forward-looking components.

A cross-disciplinary review panel will review your work prior to publication. This involves consulting not only with experts in your field, but also experts in fields where your research may affect.

To submit a pitch: Email an outline together with a writing sample to pitch@UnbuiltLabs.com. The writing sample can either be an essay you have written in the past, or a paragraph from the piece you intend to publish. We look forward to working with you whether you are a first-time or experienced writer. Please be sure to review more details about the publication process on our page For Authors.