The for-profit journal giant has long stuck to a pay for access to its journal content but times change

Last month the publisher reached an agreement with UK universities that will make their research free to read in its journals.

Perhaps Elsevier has read the writing on the OA wall and is following other publishers who are adopting various forms of open access. Or perhaps Elsevier is keen on re-shaping itself into a data analytics provider, monetising its vast information base. Probably both. Elsevier has certainly been buying specialist analytics providers, such as Science Metrix (CMM January 21 2020) and data manager SciBite (CMM August 24 2020).

And now it announces the purchase of US research admin services provider Interfolio. It’s a distance from what Elsevier refers to as “its roots in publishing.”