Science in Transition: Background paper to an Online Consultation

The current transition of the science and research system results predominantly from a bottom-up process driven by the increasing number of researchers operating in a globally networked digital system and by the increasing societal demand to address the Grand Challenges of our times. The key-stakeholders (universities, research funders, libraries, researchers, publishers, businesses) find themselves in various stages of responding or adapting to the evolving situation. For example, universities are considering new ways to evaluate researchers’ careers and requiring new types of research skills from researchers. The impact of research is of growing importance to research funding organisations. Publishers are active as they are moving towards models of Open Access to publications and research data. New players emerge with regard to determining the impact of research.  This background paper to an online consultation-see link below)
makes an attempt to identify drivers of, oppertunities and challenges for a more open, globally networked science.
Access to the consultation(anybody can participate!):
http://renevonschomberg.wordpress.com/science-in-transition/