Commercialization of Science: A Current Threat to Autonomy of the Academic Institution and Individual Scientists

We discuss the significance of autonomy in science, both with regard to the academic institution and with regard to the individual researcher. Some critics say that the autonomy of science is threatened, both on institutional and individual level. The critics maintain that the most important reason for this is the ongoing commercialization of science, or the subordination of the politics of science to the politics of trade, industry and defense. Using literature we show how this is correct and provide recommendations to counteract the potential loss of autonomy.