Research must serve a purpose and add value.

The following main types of research can be identified by looking at what drives them:

• Market-Driven research – driven by the economic drivers
• Contract research – research for external clients looking for outside expertise
• Free research – long-term research, driven by curiosity to add value to society as a whole
• Strategic research – driven by strategic goals of national governments and transnational organizations

The level of freedom you have to carve out your own research area depends on the type of research you are involved in.

[ Image: Pixabay, CC0]