Policy measures for scientific information have been and will continue to be subject to periodic review and revision, as a function of factors both internal and external to the science system. Different models of knowledge circulation and access to inlor-mation coexist, often the one in contrast with the other.
The concept itself of "scientific information policies” tends to adapt to new configurations of the scientific system, to emerging models of knowledge transfer, the alternation of new agents, as well as to the role and functions of innovative vehicles for the dissemination of scientific results.
From an economic perspective, knowledge sharing and transfer are increasingly the leitmotiv of the recommendations issued by the European Commission to support the economic development ol Europe.
In view of the above, the Information Policies in Science (IPS) project intends to identify a reference framework for analysing and comparing information policies along multiple dimensions, and tailored to diverse disciplinary contexts, given how much scholarly disciplines may differ in their information habits and environments.
I he research area of the Humanities constitutes a major focus of the IPS project, since Humanities research is increasingly required today to sustain its position within the Knowledge Economy paradigm.