The whole idea of the discussion was to exchange with relevant information, ideas, and interpretations.  I - as many - have tried to introduce MY interpretation of some situations and events in the area of biotechnology, particularly at the border of academic science, applied R&D, and their industrialization.

I have been an academic scientist, was involved in a number of governmental biotech programs, was (and is) involved in financial and strategic planning with a public company in the US, and was (and is) involved in marketing and selling new products in the US and Europe (products, which have been created, researched into, manufactured and commercialized with my direct participation). I have something to share...

Many folks out there view the world of biotechnology somewhat differently, than does an R&D manager at a biotech company, leaving alone a marketing guy or a sales manager.  That kind of knowledge comes with an experience. Academic researchers working in the biotechnology area should understand that their product/process could some day make its way out to the market. It got to be competitive! Otherwise someone has to cover the losses, and they should know that that someone is a taxpayer. A Joe-working guy pays for everything. For research grants, for so-called "international money" (it was mentioned here as some kind of "cheap" and readily available money), etc.  Someone should have brought that issue to the biotechnology forum.

Nobody at this forum calls for freedom of pollution. I assume that every participant of the forum (and beyond) appreciates clean environment.  I also assume that everyone realizes that clean environment costs money. Taxpayers - and the industry - pick that bill.

The real question is  - how to minimize the expenses, since if the industry pays more, it is the taxpayer who actually pays for it. THIS is the principal issue at a biotechnology forum, like this one.  It embraces the issues of new and innovative technologies (more efficient technology - less wastes - the lower the BILL), competitive "green" technologies, with less capital expenditures (easier to find an investor - less wastes - lower the BILL), wastes-to-biofuel technologies (less wastes - lower BILL), etc.  The environmental protection goes hand-in-glove with optimization/minimization of expenses for that protection.  A good part of biotechnology, waste management, biofuels, etc. boils down to that minimization of expenses. That is why it is an essential issue for a forum like this one.

Sincerely,
Anatole Klyosov
aklyosov@warren.med.harvard.edu