Technical Research Organization's Models
Problematization
Institutional Design Space For Research Activities.
Model Space
| Model | Description | Governance Model | Instance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Investigator Model | Autonomous researchers pursue self-defined agendas; weak coordination | Collegial / reputational governance; peer recognition and informal norms dominate | Classical university departments |
| Chair / Laboratory Model | Hierarchical lab centered on a senior researcher | PI-centric hierarchical governance; authority vested in chair/lab head | German Lehrstuhl; PI-led labs |
| Institute Model | Semi-autonomous institutes with stable funding and long horizons | Director-led institutional governance with internal academic autonomy | Max Planck Institutes; IAS |
| Mission-Oriented Program Model | Research aligned to predefined strategic objectives | Programmatic command governance; milestone and mission oversight | Manhattan Project; DARPA |
| Agency-Funded Competitive Model | Decentralized ecosystem shaped by grants | Market-like allocative governance via peer review and funding calls | NSF; NIH; Horizon Europe |
| Platform / Infrastructure Model | Shared facilities and tools for external users | Stewardship governance; technical boards and access committees | CERN; GenBank |
| Consortium / Network Model | Federated coordination across institutions | Federated / negotiated governance; treaties, MOUs, joint committees | Human Genome Project; ITER |
| Corporate R&D Model | Research embedded in firm strategy | Managerial–strategic governance aligned with corporate objectives | Bell Labs; IBM Research |
| Skunkworks / Advanced Concepts Model | Small, insulated high-risk teams | Exceptional autonomy governance; direct executive sponsorship | Lockheed Skunk Works |
| Open Science / Commons Model | Community-driven, open participation | Normative / community governance; codes, maintainers, consensus | Open-source research ecosystems |
| State-Strategic Research Complex | Research integrated with national strategy | State-bureaucratic governance; planning, ministerial oversight | Soviet Academy; Chinese state labs |
| Applied Technology Center (Tecnalia Model) | Contract-driven applied research and tech transfer | Tripartite governance (state–industry–institute); portfolio and contract governance | Tecnalia; Fraunhofer; TNO |
| Hybrid Portfolio Model | Meta-organization managing multiple regimes | Meta-governance / portfolio governance; allocative and evaluative oversight | National research systems |