The Interdependence of Science and Business

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Science has been at the heart of many of the most significant technological advancements around the globe. From new treatments for cancer and energy production to computer chip technology. While innovation is the driving force behind science business, it’s all about making money and keeping shareholders happy. Science and business were typically thought of as two distinct worlds. But, they are inextricably linked, and it is impossible to disentangle the impact of scientific research from its business impacts.

While the business world is primarily focused on making money, its effects over the long term could have significant environmental, social and economic implications. Science is also concerned with the effects of its actions and its decisions, particularly those regarding the exploitation of resources and sustainability. A smart business, for instance will exploit a natural resource at a level that science determines as sustainable – but the greed of some companies has led to over-exploitation and ecological catastrophe.

We have categorised the many ways corporations try to influence science at the macro and meso levels, and then coded the expected outcomes and effects of these strategies (TL conducted the initial code-coding, AG second-coded 20 per percent of the papers). We discovered that corporations employ five macro-level strategies that work collectively to diminish the credibility of unfavourable science and maximize positive science. These strategies are implemented using meso-strategies that, over time skew evidence in favour of the industry. This ultimately works to produce three distal results: to cast doubt on the potential harms posed by industry-related products and practices, to encourage industry-friendly policy responses and to increase the use, consumption and sales of industry products and services – thus maximising profits for companies.