This paper presents the efforts undertaken by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation regarding Science and Technology information management, through one of its Decentralized Units, Embrapa Technological Information (Scientific and Technological Information Service', SCT). The major aim of SCT is to promote and improve the processes of scientific communication - information that feeds and that results from research activities - and of science and technology dissemination - information that results from research activities and that is directed to the general public
From the article:
Open access to Embrapa’s scientific information
Embrapa is designing a project whose purpose is to propose and implement a
methodological model for the management of technical-scientific information. The model is
based on the premises/mechanisms of Open Access to feed the research and development
activities and broadly disseminate the information produced. The application of an open
access model to scientific information at Embrapa and its effective use by part of the
community would make it possible to:
assemble and preserve the scientific intellectual production of the institution in digital form using specific techniques;
provide unified access to the entire scientific production of Embrapa in electronic format and full text, and to external, open access scientific information sources relevant to the research carried out in the institution;
enhance the profile of the scientific production, the researchers and the institution itself by maximizing access to their intellectual production and, consequently, helping increase the impact of the outcomes of the research executed at Embrapa, i.e. an increased number of citations of scientific articles written by Embrapa’s researchers, and thus support the internationalization of the institution;
provide tangible indicators for the evaluation of Embrapa’s scientific production and demonstrate the public value and scientific, social and economic relevance of its activities; and
provide scientific information services to external users, with special focus on universities, researchers, and research institutes in developing countries as a whole. ...
The open access movement:
Putting peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly literature
on the internet. Making it available free of charge and
free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.
Removing the barriers to serious research.
I recommend the OA tracking project (OATP) as the best way to stay on top of new OA developments. You can read the OATP feed on a blog-like web page or subscribe to it by RSS, email, or Twitter. You can also help build the feed by tagging new developments you encounter.
