Published in October 2009, the report Science and the corporate agenda – The detrimental effects of commercial influence on science and technology by Chris Langley and Stuart Parkinson alerts to the dangerous links between science, technology and business.  Investigating in five industrial sectors: pharmaceuticals; tobacco; military/defense; oil and gas; and biotechnology, the Scientists for Global responsibility of United Kingdom leaves no doubt regarding the fact that universities are greatly affected by the consequences of the march of commercialization of knowledge in universities and in societies.  A summary is also available.

The detrimental effects of the commercial influence on science and technology imposessignificant bias in research processes and the marginalization of work with clear social and environmental benefits.

The report mentions may serious concerns related to confidentiality; intellectual property rights considerations as well as impacts on results in relation to the origin of funding. Conflicts of interest of scientific researchers for example in relation to financial interests, also have the potential to compromise the research process.

The report confirms that setting the priorities and direction of research en development (R&D) have been influenced by economic criteria. Universities are being internally reorganized so that they behave more like businesses. This resulted in the following problem : more partnerships between companies and universities, focusing on business research priorities. In addition, companies campaigned strongly to encourage policy-makers and the public to support their interpretation of the scientific knowledge, that is a commodity developed for short-term economic benefit, with little consideration for findings of efficacy or safety of a newly launched product. There has been negation of major uncertainties regarding these technologies and a general neglect of detrimental health and environmental impacts which they may produce. Each industry surveyed revealed specific concerns.

Sixteen (16) recommendations conclude the Report, addressing necessary changes within universities as well as in the system of attribution of funding to scientific research. Ethical, common good considerations and social and environmental impacts should guide necessary reform in science and technology sector in the UK.

Due to the transbordary nature of science and technology, effects observed in UK are also present in other countries, especially in US, where commercial involvement in academia is even more extensive. The situation is no different in Canada where funding of research in universities is under the formal responsibility of ministries dealing with economy and commerce. This lead the writers of the Report to state clearly that « There needs to be a thorough review of the role of the university in society and the economy – perhaps in the form of a Royal Commission. This needs to include issues ranging from the degree of involvement of business and civil society to patenting policy. »