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Ask HN: Anybody Started a Research Institute?

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Ask HN: Anybody Started a Research Institute?

#1

Post by akhann »

Hello community, I am looking to connect with HNers who have successfully started a research institute / campus or were among the first joiners. I am seeking to offer housing and a stipend to researchers, as I am currently acquiring some real estate that I want to put to good use in Germany. I will myself take time off from regular work and focus on research in a vein similar to Steve Grand's investigations into artificial life (not expecting to reach his level, but one needs a quest with lofty goals).

Not seeking a particular piece of advice, more looking for somebody to have a conversation with regarding experiences, what worked really well, how to get the ball rolling, essential infrastructure required...

End goal as of now: assemble a few great minds, give them the space to work rent-free in a region with good academic infrastructure, ideally let them collaborate, watch the beauty of it.

If relevant, an LLC-like structure is available for making this happen, but not 100% sold on how to approach this from a legal perspective.

Re: Ask HN: Anybody Started a Research Institute?

#2

Post by tlb »

I'm interested in doing something like this too, with a research focus on robotics, simulation, and programming languages.

The big dichotomy in research orgs is whether you need resources beyond researcher stipends. Robotics usually does, and programming language research usually doesn't. OpenAI does -- both computing resources and infrastructure team salaries. Make sure you know which kind you're starting.

Another dichotomy: permanent or term employment. It depends on how long-term the projects are. Bell Labs and PARC got a lot of mileage out of permanent tenures, but the term model is (a) cheaper, (b) good for collaboration because people can come for a semester and carry ideas in and out.

Stipend + remote living will attract only young, single researchers for finite terms, so make sure that's what you want.

Email me (in profile) if you want to talk more.

Re: Ask HN: Anybody Started a Research Institute?

#5

Post by david_allison »

rajlego wrote: post #3

https://ceealar.org/ is the closest that comes to mind for what you have in mind. Basically, they give room and board to people doing valuable effective altruist work https://newscience.org/ might also be interesting

Thanks so much for the links! Joining something along these lines was something that I'd been considering, and it's a push in the right direction.

Re: Ask HN: Anybody Started a Research Institute?

#8

Post by donohoe »

bigth wrote: post #7

I started a research institute. Our goal was to find out how to center divs in css.

Sir, I find this of great interest and a noble pursuit. I would very much like to invest large sums of my newly created cryptocurrency in this. Have your people contact my people.

Re: Ask HN: Anybody Started a Research Institute?

#9

Post by throwawaybutwhy »

'watch the beauty of it' - this is not ballet or opera, there's only blood, sweat, and tears. If you don't have a bunch of like-minded people and don't roll up your sleeves to manage the organization, you'll end up with wasted/stolen money and broken ideals.
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