Transfer as a reciprocal process: How to foster receptivity to results of transdisciplinary research

•Transfer to other contexts is usually an objective of transdisciplinary research to provide sustainability transformations.•Transfer is a complex process in which different types of knowledge are mediated to other contexts in various ways.•Actors in pick-up contexts also bear responsibility for successful transfer and appropriation.•Transfer to other contexts can be steered only to a limited extent, but it can be approached systematically.•Generating transfer potential for knowledge and result depends on being aware of potential pick-up contexts.