How, exactly, is commercial research taxed? Only profits are taxed, and research is all expenses, and can be deducted from profits for tax purposes in the year they occur.
In the UK a commercial profit making company, even if it is doing research would still be subject to a form of local property tax called business rates[0]. Whereas a university would likely get relief from such taxes.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_rates_in_England