What industry expects from science

Abstract

At present, industry seems to expect much less from science in general and from its academic home base in particular than during the times of technology push, where industry itself was a major source of science. The volume of science for science sake has, in many fields, grown beyond its perceived utility. The reasons for this change are discussed in their historical context in order to derive ideas for improvements. Yet it is by no means certain, that the good old times of technology push will come back. The demand for existing technology in Asia is much larger than the demand for new technology in the saturated G7 countries. New technology has a comparatively small market, unless it is less expensive and less risky than existing technology. Industry must expect therefore that science listens to non-scientific input already in the planning phase. Funding authorities appreciate this. Creative scientists, who apparently had the freedom to do research for its own sake, were often the most successful innovators of the industrial society. They won their support. This is still the model for funding research and excellence in any field. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.