I agree with many like @gaberuiz13 and @su65 that academic research is for the passion and thrill of discovery and answering questions for unknowns in their field. However I think there is a generalization that non-profits have slow moving pre-clinical research, and that’s no always the cases. At Sloan Kettering our top investigators are moving at an incredible pace- to publish, file IP and get into clinical trials. Especially in the field of oncology, there is a lot of funding available to move these pre-clinical projects quickly to clinical trials. From making CAR-T cells to a new humanized antibody, the research moves very quickly because they have the expertise and funds to move projects forward.

Industry even sponsors research under a Sponsored Research Agreement. This is a way for non-profit research to be done faster, and if successful the Industry has an option to license the IP coming out of the project. Major pharma companies like BMS, Novartis, Plexxicon, etc routinely do this with non-profits. I don’t believe there is a “better’ option. Industry needs the innovative non-profit scientists to help create, optimize their products, and perform clinical trials and non-profits require Industry to help move their research forward whether it be funding a project or proving a companies’ materials for research use.

An example of the differences in mission is that industry is in the business of making money. Whereas at Sloan Kettering we regularly say we are in the business of putting ourselves out of business. Curing cancer is the end goal, not making X amount of money.