Societal effects of transdisciplinary sustainability research—How can they be strengthened during the research process?

•Fostering societal effects in transdisciplinary research should focus on enhancing the potential for such effects.•The relations between framework conditions and research processes are vital as effects can rarely be facilitated in isolated projects.•Recommendations for an adaptive shaping of research processes are provided to strengthen the potential for societal effects.•The early stages of a transdisciplinary endeavour are crucial for creating leeway to evolve potential effectiveness.