// ENTREPRENEURS – AGENTS OF CHANGE

Changing of the guard. New entrepreneurs.

// Socio-Academic Entrepreneurship – Socio-Academic Entrepreneurs

Academic entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs have already existed for a long time, yet within the last decades we have witnessed an increase in numbers and impact as well as an enhanced research focus and discourse on these phenomena. Many academics already act with a social purpose and social entrepreneurs employ academic knowledge.

Yet, a next wave of new entrepreneurs is and increasingly will be what we entitle socio-academic entrepreneurs. Both ability and motivation are embedded in a new symbiotic nature. Rather than a social entrepreneur trained in academic knowledge or an academic entrepreneur commercializing research through a technology transfer with some social attributes, the socio-academic entrepreneur employs consciously academic research to become a social entrepreneur.

Academic knowledge does not just enable, and the social motivation does not just encourage; the symbiotic creation leads to a shift in the academic and social practice itself. Rather than acting with Mertonian disinterest socio-academic entrepreneurs act with specific social interests utilizing entrepreneurial means. They form a symbiotic creation and are not a substitute but an enriching compliment in today’s and tomorrow’s world.

Edit – links to further parts on socio-academic entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurs – Agents of Change: Summary  I/VII
Introduction  II/VII
Academic Entrepreneurs  III/VII
Social Entrepreneurs   IV/VII
Socio-Academic Entrepreneurs  V/VII
Conclusion  VI/VII
Bibliography  VII/VII