Abstract In the face of persistent sustainability problems challenging economic development, ecological integrity as well as social justice, transformational changes are crucial. Proposed changes shall include, for instance, large-scale transitions of practices, infrastructures as well as values and priorities. In Germany, real-world laboratories are proposed for research in and with society, aiming to understand and contribute to transformations. This article presents a frontrunning research program on real-world laboratories and their accompanying research projects taking part in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany.