A translational framework for entrepreneurship research

In this paper, we put forward a new translational research framework for entrepreneurship, which leverages translational research from biomedical science and design science to lay the ground for a new research ecosystem of entrepreneurship. Instead of describing, explaining and predicting, our framework places emphasis on framing, experimenting and interacting. It comprises three modes of translational research, which allow for moving discoveries made in basic entrepreneurship research to entrepreneurial practice (T1), entrepreneurial communities (T2) and entrepreneurship policy (T3). These are alternative modes of research, marking different scientific domains, that can ensure the outcomes of our basic science are understood, adapted to and adopted by stakeholders in the best way possible. This new ecosystem can expand our scope of action as entrepreneurship researchers, open new pathways to materialize the elusive “scholarly impact” and advance the conversation and practice of engaged scholarship.