ABSTRACT
The notion of freedom of research – the ideal of completely independent scholarship – has existed since the Enlightenment. That scholarship should be independent is uncontroversial in many respects, but all too often this freedom is interpreted as meaning that the university, and the university alone, should be free to determine which research is important. The idea is particularly topical in relation to the extent to which the university should play an innovative role and make contributions that are relevant to society. In America, ever since Vannevar Bush’s report there has been a relatively close relationship between universities and the private sector; but in Europe, too, universities are increasingly being paid by companies to conduct research. This is leading to friction and to criticism, especially within the universities, to the effect that the university risks putting its independence up for sale. Viewed from the opposite perspective, governments are demanding a say in the academic agenda in exchange for state funding, mainly in Asia, but also in Europe. This leads to the criticism that freedom of research is under threat. It is regarding this question of how to use this space between the universities, society and government where the most controversy is to be found.
