%0 Journal Article %J Technology Innovation Management Review %D 2014 %T Commercialization and Public Good: Conflict, Complement, or Critical Component? %A R. Sandra Schillo %K commercialization %K intellectual property %K public good %K publicly funded science %K science in society %K societal benefits %K technology transfer %K university research %X The controversy regarding the role of science in society – and how science can best achieve its role – may well date as far back as the beginnings of science itself. The specific arguments and the possible mechanisms for science to impact society, however, have changed over time. This article picks up the conversation with regards to the specific role of publicly funded science, presuming, similar to Brecht in this article's opening quotation, that publicly funded science has the goal of making positive contributions to society. To achieve this goal, today’s scientists and research managers face a myriad options of publication venues, protection mechanism, and collaborations with external partners including licensing and other options for commercialization. Oftentimes, the goal of achieving positive contributions to society is perceived as being in fundamental conflict with the restrictions many commercialization arrangements place on the use of knowledge. This article argues that, although commercialization may at times conflict with the goal of achieving positive contributions to society, it can also be complementary to pursuits towards societal contributions, or even a critical component in achieving the desired positive contributions to society. More specifically, it suggests that the use of the term “science for the public good” as description of the goal to achieve positive societal contributions might create confusion with the economic term “public good”. Thus, it seeks to reframe the discussion of how science can contribute to society in an era of increased openness and interaction. %B Technology Innovation Management Review %I Talent First Network %C Ottawa %V 4 %P 27-35 %8 07/2014 %G eng %U http://timreview.ca/article/810 %N 7 %1 University of Ottawa R. Sandra Schillo is an Assistant Professor at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa, Canada. Sandra completed her doctoral studies at the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, University of Kiel, Germany and obtained her Masters' degree in Engineering Management from the University of Karlsruhe, Germany. Her professional work experience includes employment and consulting assignments with many of Canada’s federal science-based departments and agencies and other organizations active in innovation and entrepreneurship in Canada. Sandra teaches innovation and entrepreneurship at the undergraduate and master’s levels. Her research agenda focuses on the impact of research and innovation, and explores the application of new methodologies to capturing measures of innovation and entrepreneurship and their outcomes. %R http://doi.org/10.22215/timreview/810