Innovation and entrepreneurship in organizational university “Third Space” arrangements: Third Space and third mission in mode 3 universities

Abstract This article explores how Third Space Professionals in Mode 3 universities help bridge academic research and real-world application, fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and social progress. They play a key role in mentoring early-career researchers, particularly by involving them in research projects from the proposal stage, as seen in the case of the Control of Networked Systems Group (CNS) at the University of Klagenfurt (Austria). The analysis is based on three key concepts. “Mode 3 Universities”: These institutions integrate traditional (Mode 1) and applied, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary (Mode 2) research to promote innovation. They act as innovation hubs, encouraging cross-disciplinary collaboration and societal impact across all academic fields. They also require advanced governance models that move beyond conventional public management approaches. “Third Mission”: This refers to the societal engagement of universities beyond teaching and research, including entrepreneurship, civic education, community involvement, and transdisciplinarity. “Third Space”: A flexible organizational model that supports the Third Mission by combining traditional and innovative roles. It promotes interdisciplinary work and new forms of collaboration, including team-based or hybrid professional roles that span teaching, research, and societal impact. Together, these concepts emphasize the need for pluralistic, adaptive governance that supports sustainable knowledge production and real-world impact. The CNS Group (at the University of Klagenfurt) serves as a case study of how these ideas can be practically implemented within a university setting.