Criteria for Bibliographic Databases in a Well-Functioning Scholarly Communication and Research Assessment Ecosystem

Recent developments in scholarly communication and research assessment show promising trends, such as the growth of preprints, open access, and more equitable publishing models. However, bibliographic databases like Web of Science and Scopus hinder innovation by excluding certain journals, like eLife, from their core indices. These databases prioritize traditional models, which limits the visibility of new approaches to research evaluation. To support innovation, databases should accommodate diverse scholarly platforms, recognize open peer review, and involve the research community in governance.