# Actor Process Niches in Scientific Research

This document provides an overview of the various actor types within the scientific research ecosystem, focusing on their roles as providers and consumers of different subprocesses. It highlights the unique yet interdependent niches each actor occupies, emphasizing the fractal and recursive nature of relationships between funding institutions, grant programs, and other entities within the ecosystem.

## Actor Process Niches Overview

| Actor Type            | Provider of Subprocesses                                | Consumer of Subprocesses                                | Institutional Niche                                                                                   |
|-----------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Researchers/Teams     | Production, Documentation, Peer Review, Publication, Citation                               | Peer Review, Publication, Citation, Replication, Presentation, Credentialing, Ethical Oversight, Affiliation | Central to the generation of new knowledge and insights; engage deeply in both creation and validation of scientific content. |
| Research Disciplines  | Canonization                                             | Publication, Replication                                                        | Define the standards and practices of scientific inquiry within specific fields of study, guiding research focus and methodologies. |
| Journals              | Publication                                              | Peer Review                                              | Serve as the primary platforms for the dissemination and validation of scientific findings, ensuring the credibility and accessibility of research. |
| Grant Programs        | Assessment                                               | Appropriations                                           | Administer specific funding mandates from funding institutions, targeting particular research areas or objectives with defined impacts and time frames. |
| Research Institutions | Accreditation, Affiliation                               | Operationalization, Procurement                          | Provide the necessary infrastructure, support, and accreditation for conducting and operationalizing research, facilitating the translation of findings into practical applications. |
| Funding Institution   | Appropriations                                           | Assessment, Ethical Oversight                                                        | Source of financial resources for research, fueling the research ecosystem with broader mandates than grant programs; "net provider" in the ecosystem. |
| Oversight Institution | Ethical Oversight                                        |                                                         | Ensure that research practices adhere to ethical standards, safeguarding the integrity and social responsibility of scientific endeavors. |
| Application Institution |                                                         | Operationalization                                       | "Net beneficiary" in the ecosystem, applying research outcomes to practical ends, potentially closing the loop through direct or indirect societal benefits. |

## Closing the Loop in Scientific Research

The scientific research ecosystem is characterized by a complex loop of funding, knowledge generation, and application. Funding Institutions and Oversight Institutions act as the initial "net providers," investing in research with the expectation of generating downstream benefits. These benefits can manifest directly, as in the case of corporate research where the loop is closed internally through the development of new products or technologies. Alternatively, the loop can close indirectly in public research, where outcomes lead to societal benefits such as improved healthcare, environmental sustainability, or the foundation for new industries and employment opportunities.

Grant Programs play a critical role in directing these investments toward specific research objectives, acting as intermediaries that ensure funds are allocated to projects with the potential to fulfill the strategic goals of the Funding Institutions. Researchers and Research Institutions are at the heart of this process, transforming financial resources into scientific discoveries and innovations.

Application Institutions, as "net beneficiaries," operationalize the research findings, applying them to real-world problems and needs. This application can, in turn, stimulate economic growth, inform policy, and contribute to the quality of life, potentially generating returns that flow back to the original Funding Institutions or the broader society, thereby completing the cycle.

In summary, each actor in the scientific research ecosystem occupies a unique niche, contributing to the cycle of knowledge generation and application. The interplay between these actors ensures that scientific research remains a dynamic and evolving field, capable of addressing both immediate challenges and long-term societal needs.