Science has been at the heart for many of the most significant technological advances around the globe. From the latest drug treatments and energy production to the development of computer chips. However, while innovation is what drives research, business is about profit and ensuring shareholders are satisfied. Traditionally the worlds of science and business were thought of as distinct entities. But, they are interconnected and it is impossible to separate the impact of research in science and its business impact.
While businesses are focused on profit, the long-term consequences of their decisions could have significant environmental, social, and economic impacts. Science is also concerned with the consequences of its actions and its decisions, particularly those regarding the exploitation of resources and sustainability. A well-run business, for example will use a natural resource at the level that scientists consider as sustainable, but the greed of a few businesses has led to over-exploitation and ecological disaster.
We have categorised the many methods corporations employ to influence science at the macro and meso scales and have coded the intended outcomes and effects of these strategies (TL did the initial analysis, AG second-coded 20 per percent of papers). We discovered that corporations employ five macro-level strategies that reduce the credibility of negative scientific findings and to increase the credibility of positive scientific findings. These strategies are operationalised through meso-strategies, which over time alter evidence in favor of the industry. This leads to three distal outcomes – to create doubt on the potential harms that industry products and practices, to encourage industry-favoured policy responses and to maximize consumption, use and sales of industry products and services – thus maximising profits for companies.
