Transforming and Sustaining Research Organizations: A 42-Year Retrospective Study Across University and Entrepreneurial Settings

Research centers and institutes in university and entrepreneurial settings are vital to advancing science, translating evidence into practice, and sustaining mission-driven programs. However, they face pressures that threaten organizational infrastructure and especially external funding. Further, there is limited literature about transformational change and sustainability within research organizations. To help fill this gap, we present two historical case studies, spanning 1984–2025, with practical applications of a university research institute, a nonprofit research institute, and a center within a national research institute. A heuristic framework grounded in organizational change and sustainability literature is presented to examine transformational change and sustainability over time and across research settings. We discuss challenges and strategies to overcome restrictions to change and sustainability, as well as successes, failures, and lessons learned. Case study limitations and future research recommendations are also presented. These case studies contribute to organizational change scholarship and offer practical guidance for sustaining research organizations.