Open APIs
Collaboration drives research innovation
As the nature of research becomes increasingly collaborative, the process of transforming information into intelligent content will rely more and more on the dynamic interactions between STM content providers and participants in developer communities.
Elsevier’s SciVerse Applications platform enables developers to use SciVerse ScienceDirect content and SciVerse APIs to build customised, domain-specifi c solutions for streamlining the search and discovery process
Science has traditionally relied on the sharing of knowledge and ideas, but now collaboration across borders and disciplines is building a new foundation for accelerating scientifi c discovery, writes Elsevier’s Rafael Sidi
T
he growth in collaborative efforts among researchers, regardless of geographic boundaries and subject areas, is creating an infl ux of information while new technologies
are continuing to fl ood the landscape. In order for such collaboration to fl ourish, the outcomes of scientifi c research must be readily-available, effortlessly-shared and easily-remixable. The need to reuse and remix content
across the web is fuelling the trend towards open application programming interfaces (APIs). Open APIs have grown signifi cantly, with the number of APIs registered on Programmable Web’s popular API directory
www.researchinformation.info
doubling in 2010 and more than 1,000 new applications added in 2011 in a diverse range applications. Within the scientifi c community, the
release of APIs by publishers is empowering researchers to shift their adept problem- solving from the lab to powerful web-based platforms that facilitate the creation of customised, domain-specifi c research tools. Open APIs enable STM publishers to meet customer demands for ‘your data, my way’ through applications that accommodate a variety of workfl ow needs. By providing open APIs, publishers are able to expand the reach of their content while at the same time bring more data and richness to their platforms.
Working together Through developer communities, STM content providers invite developers to share valuable feedback, exchange ideas and build applications using their APIs. These networks offer signifi cant opportunities for participants to receive recognition for their innovations and gain visibility among end- users, venture capitalists or corporations as well as generate revenues and network with potential development partners. These new partners could be individual developers, startups or academic institutions. STM content providers are wise to establish developer networks that foster the participation of both individual developers at universities and startups. Startups, already at the cutting edge of new technologies, are able to bring their unique knowledge, novel solutions and innovative spirit to these collaborative environments. Their acute understanding of the market, domain expertise and ability to adapt swiftly when new needs arise is especially important when serving niche audiences such as researchers. Elsevier, for example, has successfully attracted a variety of start-ups including NextBio, Quantifi nd, WebLib, iSpeech, Informascope and Molecular Connections through its SciVerse Applications and Developer Network platform. Through our SciVerse Applications platform, startups, as well as commercial and academic developers, have the opportunity to build workfl ow solutions for nearly 15 million researchers worldwide. Equipped with insightful feedback from researchers, developers can use SciVerse ScienceDirect content and SciVerse APIs to build customised, domain-specifi c solutions for streamlining the search and discovery process.
OCT/NOV 2011 Research Information 27
FEATURE
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