Sharing Knowledge: Scientific Communication - SSOAR

Reflections on the Value Chain of Scientific Information 191
5 Concluding remarks
This paper discusses some developments in the value chain of scientific information.
Most important engines for change are the widespread use of ICT coupled
with developments in research and education. Examples are the introduction
of the Bachelor-Master system in academic education throughout Europe
and the new opportunities for distance and lifelong learning.
The increasing use of ICT in information for research and education will lead
to the creation of institutional repositories at individual academic institutions or
at consortia of academic institutions. This means that the institution’s research
information production will be stored on these repositories in a way that is sustainable
and leans itself for direct distribution to other institutions around the
world. This development clearly marks a strengthening in the position of the generic
stakeholders striving for empowerment, the author and the reader, and the
academic institutions in the value chain. And this again will induce new roles
and positions for the other institutional stakeholders such as publishers and other
intermediaries. Due to this shift in roles the competition between these institutional
stakeholders will be much more focused on the specific value added and
the functions performed by these stakeholders. The establishment of institutional
repositories by academic institutions will create an option to change from a
high margin/low volume to a low margin/high volume scientific information
market.
It is argued that this new value chain in scientific information is feasible, in
particular if the international developments in education are taken into the equation
and are fully grasped by the academic institutions.