Brussels, 15/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission opened a public consultation on Friday 15 July to determine the measures that have to be taken to improve the access to, and preservation of, digital scientific information. Researchers, scientists and universities are invited to express their views on how to make access to scientific resources easier, how research data can be made widely available and how permanent access to digital content can be ensured. The consultation was launched by Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes and Research and Innovation Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn. The aim is to bring forward a recommendation by the end of the year on the steps EU member states have to take to improve the competitiveness of European research. Kroes said: “The broad dissemination of knowledge, within the European Research Area and beyond, is a key driver of progress in research and innovation, and thus for jobs and growth in Europe”. For this, “the results of publicly funded research should be circulated as widely as possible as a matter of principle”, she argued. The obstacles, however, are great. The Commission highlights, in particular, high and rising subscription prices to scientific publications. In addition, an ever-growing volume of scientific data means that they have to be selected and classified to make them more easily accessible, and “scientific records preserved for future generations”, the commissioner said. The consultation is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/research/consultations/scientific_information/consultation_en.htm (J.K./transl.rt)