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Science has been at the heart of many of the most important technological advances around the globe. From new treatments for cancer and energy production to the development of computer chips. While quantum physics innovation is the main driving of science, business is all about making money and keeping shareholders satisfied. Traditionally, the two fields of business and science were seen as distinct entities. However, they are interconnected and it is impossible to separate the impact of scientific research from its business implications.

While the business world is predominantly concerned with making money, its long-term effects could have significant social, environmental and economic implications. Science is also concerned about the impacts of its actions, especially its decisions regarding the exploitation of resources and sustainability. A shrewd business, for example will exploit the natural resources at an amount that is scientifically deemed as sustainable, but the greed of certain businesses has resulted in over-exploitation and ecological disaster.

We have classified the various ways that corporations try to influence science at macro as well as meso-levels, and mapped the intended effects and outcomes of these strategies (TL performed the initial codification, AG second-coded 20 per cent of papers). We discovered that corporations employ five macro-level strategies which work in tandem to minimize the perceived credibility of unfavourable research and increase the credibility of favourable science. These strategies are implemented through meso strategies that in time, can skew the evidence base to the favor of industry. This has three distal effects to discredit the potential harms caused by products and practices; to promote policies that favor industry; and also to increase sales, consumption and use of industry-related products.