Universities and fundamental research: reflections on the growth of university-industry partnership

Previously in the University eprints HAIRST pilot service at http://eprints.st-andrews.ac.uk/archive/00000053/[Originally] November 2001. This version January 2002. Forthcoming in Oxford review of economic policyThe recent rise in university-industry partnerships has stimulated an important public policy debate regarding how these relationships affect fundamental research. In this paper, we examine the antecedents and consequences of policies to promote university-industry alliances. Although the preliminary evidence appears to suggest that these partnerships have not had a deleterious effect on the quantity and quality of basic research, some legitimate concerns have been raised about these activities that require additional analysis. We conclude that additional research is needed to provide a more accurate assessment of the optimal level of commercialisation.Postprin