We analyze the collaboration networks formed by the biomedical scientists participating in a large translational research initiative.
We find that balanced open triads (gatekeepers and itinerant roles) are crucial to facilitate individual innovativeness, as compared to unbalanced open triads (coordinator and liaison roles).
We propose that scientists attain legitimacy from three sources, and that this legitimacy help them to achieve societal impact.
Using an ego-network approach, this study examines whether and to what extent an individual strategic orientation to cooperation (i.e. tertius iungens) contributes to strengthening the relation between two personal network properties (structural and institutional separation) and involvement in innovation.