U.S. telecom firm boosts research funds at Tilburg university

Law and Economics Center beneficiary

TILBURG, the Netherlands - Research center TILEC, the Tilburg Law and Economics Center, has received almost $.€300,000 from American telecom company Qualcomm. The money, which can be spent without restriction, was obtained by Damien Geradin, professor in competition law and legal advisor of the company.

The Qualcomm donation was earmarked for the Faculty of Law, but will be used for research fields in law and economics, the disciplines of TILEC. Earlier, Qualcomm informally stated that it expected to donate a similar amount next year. The total donation can amount to one million dollars.

TILEC emphasized that there are no conditions attached to the gift, the money can be spent freely, and Geradin is free to do his own research. TILEC says that they want to keep their independence.

Each year, the U.S. company donates one percent of its turnover to philanthropic aims, including academic education and research. Qualcomm also sponsors a technological institute at UC Berkeley. The idea that such a donation could be 'tainted because it is commercial' is without foundation, states TILEC. The Faculty of Law will also continue to have sponsored chairs, such as the AFM Chair and Anton Philips Chair, provided that its ”independence remains assured."