202312 Life Consideration： Business vs Research

Context §

• Discussions on various topics such as 202308 Funding for Research and Life on the Software Engineering Path

• Conversations with people during stays in 202310 Bay Area and 202311 Newport, Providence, Boston (Thanksgiving)

• Current Thoughts:

  • Starting to understand what I want to do and what motivates me
  • Concerned about which systems, communities, and funding methods to utilize

• Roughly considering the dichotomy between running a business and conducting research

• Initially believed that because I am more motivated by exploring interesting possibilities than by making a profit, I should focus on research rather than business.

• However, realized that drawing this conclusion solely based on this premise was a mistake.

• Reasons:

  • While using the business framework to achieve other goals, such as creating societal good, making interesting things, or personal happiness, have never met someone whose sole purpose is to win at the game of capitalism.

  • Using the business framework entails responsibilities (like making a profit), but I believe individuals understand and embrace these responsibilities while striving to align them with other goals.

  • By using one’s intellect, it is possible to balance making a profit with other objectives.

  • That’s true (blu3mo)

  • Whether in academia or industry, there are stakeholders funding research, so it is necessary to align their interests with one’s own objectives.

  • Need to conduct research that is likely to receive grants or aligns with corporate needs.

    • I think having storytelling skills in that area makes it easier to pursue one’s goals.

• In essence,

  • There is no clear boundary between business and research.
  • If seeking funding wherever one goes, one must bear some constraints.
    • It is good if one can achieve their goals while bearing those constraints.

• While it may seem like a common concept when written down, I have come to understand this through various examples (blu3mo).

• Fundraising within the framework of what is commonly referred to as a “startup”:

  • Common methods include Equity Funding
    • When raising funds from VCs, there is an expectation to rapidly grow and exit within about 10 years.
  • Outsourcing PoC development
  • Government grants, etc.
  • Providing value to customers in the B2B/B2C sector
  • Unconventional examples
    • Tier V, which seemed to have raised research funds from the government
    • Eukarya, SBIR, etc.
    • COTEN, https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000032.000023920.html
    • new.computer
    • ink & switch

• Fundraising within the framework of what is commonly referred to as a “research lab”:

  • Commonly through research grants from countries or donations
  • Collaborative research with companies
    • Schemes like those at Media Lab
  • Internal research labs at companies
    • Various big tech companies
      • Research divisions like microsoft research, google research, fair, meta reality labs
    • In Japan
      • Sony CSL, Omron SINIC X, mercari, pfn, …

• Some individuals engage in both research and business activities simultaneously.

  • Creating a Future World Combatively through Simultaneously Running Research, Business, and Other Projects in Life