How pandemic-driven preprints are driving open scrutiny of research

Covid-19 has changed the way many people live and work. It has also had an impact on the ways many scientists collaborate and carry out their research – and how they release their findings. The need for speed in the fast-changing research landscape of the pandemic put pressure on biomedical researchers to share their work as … Read more

‘Evolution, not revolution’ will guide next EU research funding programme – Jean-Eric Paquet

Jean-Eric Paquet says the the need for science to live up to societal challenges is greater than ever.

The structure of the EU’s next research funding programme is based on the mantra of ‘evolution, not revolution’ and so will not contain any major surprises, according to Jean-Eric Paquet, the EU’s recently appointed director-general for research and innovation, who takes up his new role on 3 April. You previously worked in the team of … Read more

Open access to scientific publications must become a reality by 2020 – Robert-Jan Smits

Imagine if all the billions we are now putting into these expensive subscription journals could be put into research, says Robert-Jan Smits.

A lot of lip service is being paid to making scientific papers free to access but when it comes to action there is a lot of hypocrisy, according to Robert-Jan Smits, the EU’s outgoing director-general for research, science and innovation. He has recently been appointed the EU’s special envoy on open access, tasked with helping … Read more