Louisiana State University has said that an oil business can comment on its research study and see all of its intellectual property. However, they will not be able to do this for free.
Their most important university has said that Shell could have a say in facility research efforts in exchange for $5 million. Another offer is that for $100,000, a company can look over the information and get access to the intellectual property that comes from it.
These terms are spelt out in a boilerplate document that Louisiana State University sent to chemical and oil companies that are part of the Louisiana Chemical Association.
In the beginning, Shell gave $20 million to Louisiana State University so that the Institute for Energy Innovation could be built. The university was then forced to give the oil company rights to the study they were doing, according to records.
Furthermore, ExxonMobil gave two million dollars to the university and was its first “strategic partner-level donor.” Since then, eight more businesses have said they want to work with the university.
Brad Ives, who is the head of the Institute for Energy Innovation, spoke out about the deals and defended the partnerships. Other companies have given money, but Shell is the only one that has given such a large amount and been given a seat on the board.
Ives has even said that working with these oil and gas businesses is “really a key to advancing energy innovation.”
A Shell representative also showed up to talk about the deal and the process. A spokesperson said, “We’re proud to work with LSU to add to the growing body of peer-reviewed climate science and move forward the search for multiple pathways that can lead to more energy with less pollution.”
