This study explores how temporal tensions between near and distant futures unfold within interorganisational collaborations addressing grand challenges. Using the case of Garden of Kairos, a network established to accelerate digital transformation, we analyse how initial visions of a transformative future gradually fade under the weight of short-term demands and coordination challenges. Drawing on a rich and unique dataset enabled by insider access (including internal documents and email threads), we examine the consequences of these tensions for collaboration. Our findings contribute to understanding how temporal dynamics shape the trajectory of grand-challenge collaborations, offering insights into their dynamics and fragility.
