The research entrepreneur: strategic positioning of the researcher in his societal environment

At present, two modes of the strategic relationship of the researcher with his environment are known. These are the 'ivory tower' and 'strategic research', known also as mode1 and mode2. In this paper, we develop an analytical model that not only predicts these two well-known modes but also leads to a new, third mode - the research entrepreneur. The research entrepreneur is directing his environment by creating demand for his scientific products instead of supplying on the demand of his environment. The first results of a few cases from an empirical study conducted at the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology confirm the feasibility of the model in creating observables for the different modes of strategic positioning of the researcher, in this case MESA+.