Going for gold

I am convinced that the digital world is a game changer in scientific research. We have seen this happen in other sectors, for example, the music industry, newspapers and travel. In those areas, the Internet has completely revolutionized business models. But it did not happen easily. Traditional players have generally put up resistance and often successfully. But, eventually, a transformation comes about. At that stage, the technology is so far advanced and the pressure from users is so intense that the opportunity emerges for different types of business models. It is then a matter of whether you are part of the movement or stuck behind the times. I believe that that time has now come. Information and communication technologies, and open access in particular, is also set to revolutionize the scientific world. It is simply a question of when and how. And, above all, who the new market leaders will be.