Academic Publishing: Research Leadership in the Context of Digitalization and Globalization of the Business Environment

Abstract The aim of the present study is to recreate the new role that academic publishing houses perform in the conditions of digital transformation and the growing number and volume of scientific publications in the conditions of oligopolistic competition, of structuring the ecosystem of academic publishing as an opportunity to build a network of mutually intersecting interests. The chosen approach analyzes the dynamic environment in which academic publishing houses function under the influence of subsequent crises and changes in the business model of accumulation and dissemination of scientific knowledge. Bearing in mind the special role of academic publication and distribution, it has a key role in the exchange of scientific knowledge, expanding the possibilities of access and use of already created and distributed scientific production to increase academic institutions’ competitiveness. Academic publishing and knowledge dissemination are facing the need for digital transformation and redesign of the access system. Only in such a case will it realize its practical goals of creating added value and return on the resources invested in the system. This change in the role of academic publishing makes it relevant. It strengthens its contribution to limiting the opportunities for abuse of authors’ copyright on the results of their scientific research. Academic publishing and distribution form a changing and relatively new field that, in the current market conditions, is tasked with satisfying the interests of universities, researchers and end-users for access to scientific knowledge. The main challenges faced by academic publishing include: the provision of open access to scientific information; the protection of intellectual property; the realization of economic efficiency based on invested resources and increased competitiveness. In the end, academic publishing houses are economic agents, using various funding sources, and hence realize to varying degrees the effect of their improved market positioning. In this way, this industry contributes to the promotion of scientific knowledge and copyright protection for researchers, the possibility of comparisons and new searches, and for investors in the publishing business − to receive a real return for the resources invested. The present study is tasked with giving a new perspective to the business of academic publishing and distribution as a socially significant ecosystem subject to basic economic laws and its role in sharing scientific knowledge to improve the welfare of society.