Mapping Industry Influence on Policy and Research Collaboration in Denmark

Abstract Background It is well known that commercial actors influence public health through the products they produce and sell. Recently, more focus has been brought to the practices of commercial actors, such as the tobacco, nicotine and alcohol industries, and how they shape public health, for example, through policy. As a public health institute providing public-sector services, it is essential to understand and communicate these practices to counteract and mitigate their influence. To achieve this, we suggest a project that maps the influence of the tobacco, nicotine, and alcohol industries on Danish political decision-making and raises greater awareness among researchers, funders, NGOs, and the broader public on this topic. Methods The suggested project would involve two activities: 1. An evidence synthesis: a) Synthesise the existing evidence (peer-reviewed and grey literature) in relation to how the tobacco, nicotine, and alcohol industry affects political decision-making in Denmark, b) Identify the need for future research and initiatives 2. Hosting a 1.5-day symposium: a) Mapping of relevant national and international research collaborators (individual researchers, organisations, and institutions), b) Presentation of the evidence synthesis and discussions of future research and other initiatives, c) Establish a platform for future collaborations among researchers and other relevant actors. Results We plan for the evidence synthesis to result in a scientific paper and a lay-language report to make the results easily accessible to a broader audience. The symposium is expected to yield one or more new research proposals, including collaborations with new cross-sectional and international partners. Conclusions We expect the project to demonstrate how commercial actors influence policy decisions in Denmark, establish a solid foundation for future research and initiatives, and promote new collaborations between researchers and other actors in the field.