Conducted and written at the very beginning of the third millennium, this research attempts a truly trans-disciplinary approach resulting in three kinds of knowledge. Three levels3 of Plato’s analogy of the divided line, a metaphor he used to describe and structure the different levels of existence as he grasped them, is used to visualize the different kinds of insights sought (Figure 1.1).

Figure 1.1 – Platonic Research Ontology

On the highest and purest level Plato positions metaphysical ideas. Why should we have universities? What is the idea of the university? And, what role ought it to play in the 21st century? These questions are of meta-physical and ethical nature and are thus dealt with through the formulation of an argumentative position4. On this dimension elemental phenomena like system vs. life-world (Juergen Habermas, 1978) are discussed. The normative dimension is naturally a contested and lately discredited field because insights are deemed to be subjective, while science ought to strive for objectivity. However this dimension determines the ‘ends’ or objectives for the more practical questions dealt with on the other levels and thus it is important to reach and describe the works position in this regard. The second level is conceptualized by Plato as the realm of forms. Here the idea of a circle becomes a worldly representation in a drawing or a conceptualization such as theoretic math. This is the realm of scientific theory explaining why things are the way they are, or how to approach the ideas of the first level. Plato’s third dimension treats the world as it is. On this level concrete and instrumental questions like: “How can the internet be used to facilitate knowledge entrepreneurship in universities?” are dealt with5. This research will investigate and analyze practices in universities and one result will be a collection of phenomena/aspects meant to create opportunities and stimulate innovation in other universities.

In-between the practical knowledge on how to do something and the axiological level of motivations and finality is Plato’s second dimension, the world of forms. Here the world is observed and insights are gathered in order to better understand reality. What are the rules and energies that make the system behave in different ways? How do the different ideas interrelate? This is where science is at home. The aim of someone in this dimension is to understand reality. Naturally the main interest of this work is on this level. The endeavours will result in a comprehensive analysis of the knowledge entrepreneurship practices in higher education which will allow me to propose my understanding of the factors involved in the creation of a knowledge entrepreneurship mindset and infra-structure in universities.

Through this holistic approach I believe all relevant aspects of knowledge entrepreneurship can be dealt with while it allows me to weight and focus on certain aspects.