Essay by 謝振禮老師 Jeenn Lee Hsieh

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真題還原

Private companies that support and carry out scientific research are spending more than governments. Do you think that the advantages of this development outweigh its disadvantages? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.

范文

Scientific research had better be carried out by private money than by government funding. In most developed countries, scientific research spending comes from private companies rather than from governments, especially if the research results are mainly profit-motivated. It is because the private incentive causes researchers to concentrate their energies on projects which are perceived as likely to generate profit in return, whereas the government-sponsored research is often limited in spending, for good reasons.

There are disadvantages to scientific research privately funded, of course. Critics hold that such research results may benefit only a single "interest group" instead of being publicly shared. That is to say that scientific research is done for profit, and not necessarily for the common good. Thus, when it comes to doing research about "pure sciences"--biology, chemistry and physics, government funding is essential because private companies are probably not so interested. Generally speaking, government-sponsored research projects are important in that they often go beyond the scope of isolated private researchers. That also explains why in specific areas like military technology and hard science, funding relies exclusively on governments so that the innovated ideas should not be controlled by private companies.

However, there are probably more advantages to allowing, even encouraging, private sectors to be freely engaged in scientific research projects. The benefits are especially obvious in a climate of austerity since government funding is often scarce. As usual, private companies could be motivated to invest in scientific research of perhaps commercial value in a profit-driven economy. Besides, it is true that private companies hiring free scientific minds are usually more efficient and proficient than government organizations which tend to impose lengthy and frustrating regulations to monitor research projects. In comparison, private companies that support scientific research have a clear purpose: profit. Consequently, they are more willing to spend more than government-funded non-profit research agencies.

Along with the most brilliant brains, money is the most dominating factor in carrying out successful scientific research projects. Although it is always important for governments to focus on scientific projects to seek knowledge for its own sake and for high-tech national defense; ultimately, private companies could share the major financial responsibility in making a difference in various research projects. Needless to say, public funding for scientific research seems never enough to rock and roll.