The push to commercialize publicly funded, academy-driven scientific research has emerged as a significant science policy challenge. In this article, we investigate whether evidence of this push exists in Canadian scientific research policies through a comprehensive review of legislation, government policy instruments, funding agencies’ program and awards guides and policy statements, political commentary, and university policies. The study maps and discusses the language and justifications used to promote this commercialization push, and examines possible impacts on the Canadian research environment. The article also presents the views of some members of Canadian scientific research community regarding the push or pressure to commercialize their work.
