Definition:

• Corporatisation of science refers to the process of transforming scientific research and institutions from being primarily government-funded and publicly accountable entities into market-driven, profit-oriented enterprises. 
• In this model, research is treated as a commodity, and institutions are encouraged to generate revenue through patents, private investments, and partnerships with industry. 
• The focus shifts from curiosity-driven, fundamental research to applied research that has immediate commercial value or aligns with corporate or government economic objectives.

Key Features of Corporatisation of Science:

• Revenue Generation from Patents: Laboratories and research centres are expected to get patents for their innovations and generate revenue by selling these patents.
• Private Sector Investment: Research institutions are encouraged to seek funding from private companies, reducing reliance on government funding.
• Market-Driven Research: The focus shifts towards research that can produce marketable products or solutions, emphasising prototype development and commercialization over basic, curiosity-driven research.
• Commercialization of Knowledge: Universities and research institutions treat their intellectual output as a commodity, licensing patents and research findings to private firms.

Examples of Corporatisation of Science in India:

• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), a premier R&D organisation in India, has been directed to market its patents and generate revenue from external sources. 
  • The Dehradun Declaration of 2015 formalised this approach, pushing CSIR labs to self-finance their research through collaborations with industry and by commercialising their innovations.
• Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) aims to fund research in India by linking academia, industry, and research and development.
  • The foundation expects 72% of its funding to come from the private sector, reflecting the shift towards corporate involvement in research funding. 
  • The emphasis on “prototype development” signals the focus on creating marketable products rather than solely investing in basic scientific research.
• Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a public sector enterprise that promotes industry-academia partnerships in the biotechnology sector. 
  • It provides funding and support to biotechnology start-ups and researchers to develop commercially viable products. 
  • By fostering collaborations between academia and industry, BIRAC exemplifies how scientific research is being driven towards commercialization in India.

Way Forward:

• The ratio of public funding for science research in India has been 0.6% to 0.7% of GDP for the last decade which has to be increased to at least 2% 
• While the private sector is encouraged to fund, the government must increase its basic science and non-profit research allocation. 
• If that does not happen, the country will eventually witness the decline of curiosity-driven science in our universities, which could also undermine public trust in science when it gets dominantly mediated by private interests. 
• Equally important is to nurture an ambience of free enquiry and maintain the financial and administrative autonomy of the research institutes.