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For this to happen, it is in fact essential that the discovery of the new molecule itself is not subject to a patent or protection. Rather, it is the very fact that this new discovery is now common knowledge that allows all pharmaceutical companies to compete in trying to be the first to come up with a drug that works. Patenting or otherwise protecting the discovery of that molecule, thereby allowing its use only by a company that funded part of the research or is willing to pay for a license, in fact, eliminates competition and can only stifle progress. Thus, for scientific discovery to stimulate commercialization and economic growth it has to be open and available to anyone who wishes to use it to create a product that creates new jobs, new revenues and opens new markets. This is why paying for scientific discovery is in the public interest and a good use of tax-payers money, whereas paying industry to make inventions is not. This important difference is also reflected in how scientists and inventors differ in their approach to science. Discovery scientists pursue new knowledge and compete in being the first to publish scientific papers, in the process bringing new knowledge into the public domain. Inventors, work on using this new knowledge and compete to bring new products or services to market. The reward for the former is academic recognition and perhaps the Nobel prize the reward for the latter is a healthy bank account (only rarely do the two overlap). While it makes good sense for governments to pay for scientific discovery, they should leave the funding and commercialization of products and services to the inventors in industry. This division of scientific enterprise has served us well in the past it would continue to serve us in the future. Arya M. Sharma, MD, is an expert advisor with EvidenceNetwork.ca, Professor and Chair in Obesity at the University of Alberta and Scientific Director of the Canadian Obesity Network.