Amanda
Radical Statistics
Issue 104
Science and the corporate agenda: The detrimental effects of commercial influence on science and technology1
Chris Langley and Stuart Parkinson Overview
Links between science, technology and business are numerous. It is no secret that these links are increasing in number and extent, a reflection of the growing role of science and technology in the drive for competitiveness between the leading economies. Both governments and business assert that this close relationship is generally positive for science and technology on the one hand and society on the other. However, there is growing evidence that this relationship brings with it a range of detrimental effects. This study examines how significant such effects are, how they manifest themselves and where their impact is felt. We investigate these effects in five industrial sectors: pharmaceuticals; tobacco; military/defence; oil and gas; and biotechnology. This study approaches the issue primarily from a UK perspective, while drawing on a wide range of sources. In particular, we critically examine the extensive range of government policy initiatives over the last 20 years that have driven much closer links between business and the universities in the UK. Given the transboundary nature of science and technology, we cast a wider net when examining the five industrial sectors, taking account of experiences in the USA – where commercial involvement in academia is more extensive – as well as in some other European countries. We make recommendations for tackling the problems that we identify.
The march of commercialisation
Over the past 20 years, in the UK (and other leading industrialised nations), there has been a concerted effort by policy-makers and commerce to increase the links between business and academic
This article was first published in September 2009 as the executive summary of a report by Scientists for Global Responsibility. Reprinted with permission. The full report
Issue 104
Science and the corporate agenda: The detrimental effects of commercial influence on science and technology1
Chris Langley and Stuart Parkinson Overview
Links between science, technology and business are numerous. It is no secret that these links are increasing in number and extent, a reflection of the growing role of science and technology in the drive for competitiveness between the leading economies. Both governments and business assert that this close relationship is generally positive for science and technology on the one hand and society on the other. However, there is growing evidence that this relationship brings with it a range of detrimental effects. This study examines how significant such effects are, how they manifest themselves and where their impact is felt. We investigate these effects in five industrial sectors: pharmaceuticals; tobacco; military/defence; oil and gas; and biotechnology. This study approaches the issue primarily from a UK perspective, while drawing on a wide range of sources. In particular, we critically examine the extensive range of government policy initiatives over the last 20 years that have driven much closer links between business and the universities in the UK. Given the transboundary nature of science and technology, we cast a wider net when examining the five industrial sectors, taking account of experiences in the USA – where commercial involvement in academia is more extensive – as well as in some other European countries. We make recommendations for tackling the problems that we identify.
The march of commercialisation
Over the past 20 years, in the UK (and other leading industrialised nations), there has been a concerted effort by policy-makers and commerce to increase the links between business and academic
This article was first published in September 2009 as the executive summary of a report by Scientists for Global Responsibility. Reprinted with permission. The full report