Introduction

The quality of contemporary research and development depends to a large extent on the efficiency of the international transfer of scientific information. Furthermore, the use of information methods and techniques is of significance in setting up research hypotheses, as well as in teaching and learning.

The importance of technical information for research continues to grow. In the past, science was characterized by objective observation, powerful methods and techniques, and ability for prediction. Today, these characteristics are increasingly combined with the transfer of results into production, environmental protection and decision-making processes. Patents, technical reports and know-how offers have found their place next to scientific papers and conference reports. In applied disciplines, patents are often published before scientific papers. Biotechnology is a typical example of such a field.

The introduction of scientific and technical information into education and research is of undeniable importance also for another reason. Most highly developed universities have their ‘silicon valleys’, often labelled as ‘science parks’ or ‘university developmental enterprises’, where new scientific achievements serve as the basis for small-scale entrepreneurship, with the hope of at least some production and/or environmental protection on a larger scale. These activities have to compete in the world market, i.e. they have to have access to and to use the newest scientific, technical and economic information. Such information cannot be found in textbooks only.