The value of scholarly communication

In this article I will address the value of scholarly communication. I will touch on aspects that include the value provided by researchers, publishers, funders and other stakeholders within the science, technology and medical (STM) industry information ecosystem. When referring to publishers throughout, I would like to point out that in this context I refer to publishers of any kind and size: for-profit and not-for-profit publishers, university presses, as well as the publishing activities of medical and learned societies. I also deliberately mention the words information and knowledge ecosystem – my best effort to acknowledge that the many stakeholders form an intricate and inseparable network that support the discoverability, exchange and accumulation of information supporting research. The aim this paper is to describe the value of research communication broadly, and in doing so I distinguish between: (a) value that is clearly there, and typically recognized; (b) value that is delivered, yet taken for granted, or not so well recognized; (c) areas of missing value, that is, value that should be there yet is generally not there, or not provided sufficiently at scale by anyone within the information system. I will argue that some of that missing value of the system is hindering the progress of research efficiency. Finally, at a different level, I identify the need for “new” value defined by dialogue, mutual understanding and planning with stakeholders for a better future of research communication. Research – i.e. as conducted by researchers, deserves the maximum quality support. Research is a driving force behind technological advancement, solving societal issues, increasing economic value, and, ultimately health or well-being. From our own employee-surveys at Elsevier, and meeting with many hundreds of colleagues, it is rare to find people within our organization who do not indicate to be proud about their supporting the world of research and global dissemination of research information. Nevertheless, conducting research and even more so the production of information around research is under budget pressures. The worlds expenditure on R&D at business enterprises, governments, higher education and private non-profit organizations is estimated at ca $1,850,000 Million (sources OECD, UNESCO), and the sum of information budgets are around 2% of the overall budget, somewhat declining annually now over more than a decade. The internet was invented and developed mainly by researchers. Ironically the world of research itself was affected relatively late by the technology. Incumbent publishers have woken up to new players who picked up the looming existing ambitions and needs from researchers, in many different segments of the