"Research 2.0.1: The future of research funding"

“The recent rise of crowdfunding platforms that cater solely to raising money for research projects has captured the imagination of the mainstream media. Examples include Microryza, SciFund, Petridish and the partnership between Indiegogo and UCSF… As scientists continue to seek alternative funding sources, one increasingly attractive option is to generate funding through performing fee-for-service work for other researchers. The ability to fund a lab through ‘selling’ expertise is very similar to the bootstrapping approach used by many early stage software startups… Despite spending a median of 7.2 years of graduate training, only 15% of Ph.D.-trained scientists will find employment as a tenure-track professor at a research institution. Along similar lines to bootstrapping of research labs, I believe that scientific freelancers can’t be far behind.  Indeed, on Science Exchange, we already see a number of individuals offering bioinformatics services (which do not require wet lab space or equipment). They offer these services in their own free time, allowing them to supplement their income.”

http://blogs.nature.com/soapboxscience/2013/06/12/research-2-0-1-the-future-of-research-funding