Vannevar Bush’s Science the Endless Frontier is a pivotal document. It restates the arguments for the value of research and creates a mandate for the use of public funds in supporting universities both in their basic research and their instruction. While some parts of Bush’s vision have been implemented–such as the National Science Foundation and research funding–other parts have not, and really should.
Bush stresses the importance of supporting strong centers of basic research.
Publicly and privately supported colleges and universities and the endowed research institutes must furnish both the new scientific knowledge and the trained research workers. These institutions are uniquely qualified by tradition and by their special characteristics to carry on basic research. They are charged with the responsibility of conserving the knowledge accumulated by the past, imparting that knowledge to students, and contributing new knowledge of all kinds. It is chiefly in these institutions that scientists may work in an atmosphere which is relatively free from the adverse pressure of convention, prejudice, or commercial necessity. At their best they provide the scientific worker with a strong sense of solidarity and security, as well as a substantial degree of personal intellectual freedom. All of these factors are of great importance in the development of new knowledge, since much of new knowledge is certain to arouse opposition because of its tendency to challenge current beliefs or practice.
Consider this argument up against the idea that the purpose of research is to create patentable inventions to be dealt to monopoly interests that acquire rights to speculate on the future value products to be sold to industry or consumers. This form of technology licensing, as soon as it is a compulsory requirement of university employment or use of facilities, and not a voluntary service provided to faculty and inventors by the university, moves the university outside of Bush’s argument. The university has then abandoned one of its key “unique qualifications” and “special characteristics” that grounded Bush’s argument for public funding.