Originally in the WSJ.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2017/07/11/paying-professors-inside-googles-academic-2.html
So are you upset with the professors, or Google?
Corporate-sponsored academic research has always been controversial.
Nothing wrong with corporate sponsored research!!!
Dear Google,
I’m working on a research project that proves Net Neutrality solves world hunger, fights climate change and promotes world peace!
However, I do need a bit more funding to complete by work…say $20K?
Looking forward to your response and check!
@Simba9 - I am not upset with anyone. The more I find out about universities and professors, the more odious the whole system is.
Dear Google,
I’m working on a research project which proves Google is the most Augustulus online company and should be given maximal advantages under US and international IP/PTO laws. However, as this endeavor is an arduous one, more funding for tools and expenses will be required such as:
$260,000,000,000,000 for salary
$500,000 for a customized Lambroghini as formal ground transportation. Another $20k for fuel and ongoing maintenance.
$400,000 technology retainer for computing/technological necessities
$50 million for a VF-1 Veritech for air transportation and in case free access to research repositories isn’t freely given and another $5 million for fuel and accessories.
$100 million expense account for food, dining, and other miscellaneous expenses.
$500 million reserve in case I need to employ “research assistants”.
$42 million slushee fund(i.e. For practical jokes on non-cooperative entities).
Considering the limitless benefits of my research, I have no doubt you’ll find my grant request to be reasonable and well worth your ongoing long-term investment. I look forward to receiving my first installment within 30 days.
No different than pharmaceutical companies subsidizing medical research or insurance companies subsidizing actuarial science faculty.
Expect a lot more of these kinds of deals as the state and federal government cut back their funding. The money’s gonna have to come from somewhere…
Clearly a very important source of research funding comes from corporations and industry groups. Not only do I have no issue with it, but we need more of it!
However, it should be disclosed (and in most cases, it is).
I am an academic researcher, and my opinions are not for sale for 5-20K!
Marketplace had a good interview with the Wall Street Journal reporter. A few things were clear:
– All of Google’s rivals do the same thing, on a lesser but still significant scale.
– Most of this involves law professors, and it’s not so much research as “research.” They’re paying for an extra part-time student research assistant.
– Law review funding disclosure rules are nonexistent.
– Google never, ever tells people what it wants them to conclude. It follows people working in areas of interest to it systematically, and offers no-strings-attached funding to people whose ideas and work quality it likes.