The Interdependence of Science and Business

Science has been the underlying principle of many of the most important technological advances around the globe. From new drug treatments and energy production to computer chip technology. However, while innovation drives science, business is focused on making money and keeping shareholders happy. Science and business were traditionally considered to be two separate realms. However, the two are inextricably linked, and it is impossible to separate the impact of scientific research and its business impact.

While the business world is principally focused on making money, its long-term effects can have significant environmental, social and economic consequences. Science is concerned about the repercussions of its actions, in particular its decisions regarding the exploitation of resources and sustainable development. A wise business, for instance will exploit natural resources at the level that scientists consider as sustainable, but the greed of certain businesses has led to over-exploitation and ecological disaster.

We have categorised the many ways that corporations attempt to influence science at the macro as well as meso-levels, and mapped the intended outcomes and effects of these strategies (TL performed the initial code-coding, AG second-coded 20 per percent of the papers). We discovered that corporations employ five macro-level strategies to reduce the perceived credibility of unfavourable scientific findings and maximize favourable scientific findings. These strategies are implemented through meso strategies that in time, can skew the evidence base in favor of industry. This eventually leads to three distal outcomes: to raise doubt about the potential harms caused by industry products and practices, promote industry-friendly policy responses, and to maximise consumption, use and http://scorbe.de/musikplattformen/ sales of products and services, thereby increasing profits for corporations.