How Corporate Researchers Access Knowledge
In the high-stakes race to develop new medicines and technologies, even the largest companies can find themselves locked out of the very scientific literature that fuels innovation.
Imagine a team of brilliant pharmaceutical researchers on the cusp of a breakthrough for a rare disease. They have the funding, the equipment, and the expertise. But when one scientist tries to pull up a crucial research paper from a prestigious journal, she hits a paywall. The company's subscription doesn't cover that title, and the clock is ticking. This isn't a rare scenario; it's a daily reality in corporate R&D labs worldwide. The seamless access to science that many assume is a given is, in fact, fractured by significant barriers that shape the pace of innovation itself.
For researchers in academia, clicking through to a needed scientific article is often a single, seamless step, thanks to institutional subscriptions. For their counterparts in the corporate sector, the path is rarely so straightforward. A landmark study by Ithaka S+R, which surveyed information managers from nearly 40 pharmaceutical, agriculture, and chemical companies, revealed a landscape where systemic barriers persistently hinder the discovery and access to scholarly literature2 .
In smaller, start-up companies, the challenge is often a lack of dedicated resources. These firms, typically focused on a single product, rarely have a corporate library or an information manager2 . The responsibility for finding scientific literature often falls to a senior scientist or a medical lead as a secondary duty.
While large, multinational corporations have the budgets for millions of dollars in annual subscription fees, they face a different set of challenges rooted in their scale and complexity2 .
In response to these challenges, new models and technologies are emerging to create a more streamlined flow of information from publishers to corporate labs.
Recognizing the inefficiency of fragmented access, some publishers are pioneering holistic subscription packages. For instance, the American Chemical Society (ACS) offers an "ACS All Access" subscription, designed specifically for commercial and government institutions4 .
The value proposition is clear: by providing barrier-free access to a broad library of content, these subscriptions can accelerate the speed of discovery and foster a more engaged and innovative research workforce4 .
Parallel to new subscription models, the Open Science movement is working to reshape the very foundation of how research is shared. Open Science encompasses practices like open access publishing, where articles are free to read, and the sharing of raw data and protocols7 .
Successful examples like the Human Genome Project stand as a testament to the power of open approaches. The project's commitment to making data publicly available within 24 hours is credited with generating more genetic tests and greater economic benefits than if the information had been kept private7 .
Commitment to making genomic data publicly available within 24 hours sets a precedent for open science7 .
Publishers begin offering open access options alongside traditional subscription models.
Coalition of research funders requires grantees to publish in open access journals.
Publishers like ACS introduce comprehensive subscription models for corporate clients4 .
What does it take to navigate this complex information landscape? The modern corporate researcher or information manager relies on a suite of tools and resources.
| Tool/Database Name | Primary Function | Common Use Case in Industry |
|---|---|---|
| ScienceDirect | Platform for scientific, technical, and medical literature9 | Access to peer-reviewed journals and books published by Elsevier and its partners. |
| Scopus | Abstract and citation database9 | Comprehensive literature discovery and analysis of research trends and impact. |
| Reaxys | Focused chemistry database9 | Optimizing the discovery of chemical compounds, reactions, and properties. |
| ABI/INFORM Global | Database of business periodicals8 | Research on markets, competitors, management techniques, and economic trends. |
| Factiva | Global news and business information8 | Monitoring current events, market signals, and media coverage relevant to R&D strategy. |
92%
of large corporations use ScienceDirect
78%
rely on Scopus for literature reviews
65%
use specialized databases like Reaxys
The barriers to scientific literature in the corporate sector are a complex mix of economic models, organizational structures, and legacy publishing practices. Yet, the direction of travel is clear. The growth of all-access subscriptions and the accelerating momentum of the Open Science movement are powerful forces working to create a research environment where access to knowledge is not a barrier to innovation, but its fuel.
As these models evolve, the goal is a future where a researcher—whether in a university lab in Boston or a start-up in Singapore—can follow the scientific method unimpeded, leading to faster discoveries, more efficient use of resources, and solutions to the world's most pressing challenges.
Note: This article is based on research and reports from Ithaka S+R, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and industry providers.