Reflections on the Need for “Between Times” and “Between Places”

Abstract

This article argues that a great deal of intellectual entrepreneurship happens in times and spaces that lie between institutions. Ideas are often born when people move from one context to another. During “between times” and in “between places” people come up with possibilities that might not fit within one institution alone. The realization of new ideas then requires combining energies and resources from different institutions, and it often involves pushing conventions aside, creating new space between existing institutions. The article explores the example of a business-and-research venture, CHOICE mobilitatsproviding GmbH, to illustrate the importance of multiple types of “between” and their significance for organizational learning.