1st Edition

The Privatisation of Knowledge A New Policy Agenda for Health, Energy, and Data Governance

By Massimo Florio Copyright 2024
185 Pages
by Routledge

185 Pages
by Routledge

185 Pages
by Routledge

This book deals with the emergence of intellectual monopolies. It explores different ways of producing knowledge, thus showing alternatives to the current dominant paradigm which is based on turning knowledge produced collectively into intangible assets, owned by a few leading corporations. It discusses a paradox: knowledge creation by government-sponsored research infrastructures (RI) or by... Read more

List of Tables

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction: science and social justice

Knowledge as an intangible asset

Where is knowledge produced?

Innovation and financialisation

The role of government

Science and gambling

Policy failures

A new policy agenda

Notes

1. The places of knowledge: from Big Science to research infrastructure

Big Science and the military・industrial complex

The “Geneva model” and its evolution

How university research is changing

How R&D is changing within firms

The social impact of research infrastructure

Science for scientists and the creation of human capital

Direct impact on businesses

Cultural impact and social attitudes towards science

Summing up

Notes

2. Science, inequality, and public policy

The channels of privatisation of knowledge

The new oligopoly and inequality

Corrective policies

Rethinking public enterprise

Internalisation of missions

Ownership and legal form

Governance

Funding

Notes

3. Biomed Europa: medicines that no one else will give us

Priorities

Industry

Governments

Lessons from the pandemic

A proposal

Social benefits and costs

Appendix: some proposals from the European Commission

Notes

4. Green Europa: science and technology for saving the planet

What’s wrong with the planet? And why we don’t know enough about the cure

The European Commission’s strategy and its limitations

The role of cutting-edge research and innovation

The role of the European Union and a proposal

Appendix: The European Space Agency model

Notes

5. Digital Europa: how to get our data back

Introduction

A short history of bits

The digital oligopoly

Missed opportunities

European Commission initiatives and a new proposal

Appendix: Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act

Appendix: the Fraunhofer model

Notes

Conclusion: what can be done?

Note

Bibliography

Index

Biography

Massimo Florio is Professor of Public Economics at the University of Milan, Italy and co-Chair of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on European research and innovation policy.