La omisión del gasto en licencias de uso y servicios contratados en debates sobre alternativas basadas en software libre y herramientas abiertas
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2026
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Abstract
El objetivo de este trabajo es aportar información sobre el gasto de universidades públicas, sus bibliotecas, centros de investigación y la Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (FECYT) en suscripciones y servicios contratados en cuanto a sistemas de gestión bibliotecaria y bases de datos y herramientas para la información y evaluación científicas. Se analizan 70 licitaciones desde 2017 con adjudicatarios como Ex Libris (de Clarivate), OCLC y Baratz en cuanto a sistemas de gestión bibliotecaria, y Web of Science e InCites (también de Clarivate) y Scopus y SciVal (de Elsevier) en cuanto a herramientas para la información y evaluación científicas. Desde dicho año, el gasto para el software de gestión bibliotecaria supera los 16 millones de euros sin IVA (más de 20 con impuestos). Para servicios y herramientas de información y evaluación científicas, el gasto supera los 39 millones sin IVA (más de 48 con impuestos): más de 23 millones sin IVA (más de 28 con impuestos) a Clarivate por Web of Science e InCites y más de 16 millones sin IVA (más de 19 con impuestos) a Elsevier por Scopus y SciVal. A modo de discusión y conclusiones, se reflexiona sobre la omisión del gasto en servicios contratados en debates sobre alternativas basadas en software libre y herramientas abiertas y en el contexto de CoARA y la ciencia abierta; y se plantean cuestiones a debatir desde una perspectiva más integradora y crítica, teniendo en cuenta el gasto por las licencias de uso de los servicios comerciales contratados.
The aim of this work is to provide information on the expenditure of public universities, their libraries, research centers, and FECYT (the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology) on services and subscriptions regarding library management systems and databases and tools for scientific information and research evaluation. 70 tenders/bids since 2017 are analyzed from providers such as Ex Libris (Clarivate), OCLC, and Baratz regarding library management systems, and Web of Science and InCites (also Clarivate) and Scopus and SciVal (Elsevier), in relation to tools for scientific information and research assessment. From 2017, expenditure on library management software exceeds €16 million excluding VAT (more than €20 million including VAT). For scientific information and evaluation services and tools, expenditure exceeds €39 million excluding VAT (more than €48 million including VAT): more than €23 million excluding VAT (more than €28 million including VAT) to Clarivate for Web of Science and InCites, and more than €16 million excluding VAT (more than €19 million including VAT) to Elsevier for Scopus and SciVal. In the discussion and conclusions, the paper reflects on the perceived omission of expenditure on subscribed services in debates on free software–based and open-tool alternatives and in the context of CoARA, and open science; and raises questions for debate from a more integrative and critical perspective, taking into account the expenditure on licenses for subscribed commercial services.
The aim of this work is to provide information on the expenditure of public universities, their libraries, research centers, and FECYT (the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology) on services and subscriptions regarding library management systems and databases and tools for scientific information and research evaluation. 70 tenders/bids since 2017 are analyzed from providers such as Ex Libris (Clarivate), OCLC, and Baratz regarding library management systems, and Web of Science and InCites (also Clarivate) and Scopus and SciVal (Elsevier), in relation to tools for scientific information and research assessment. From 2017, expenditure on library management software exceeds €16 million excluding VAT (more than €20 million including VAT). For scientific information and evaluation services and tools, expenditure exceeds €39 million excluding VAT (more than €48 million including VAT): more than €23 million excluding VAT (more than €28 million including VAT) to Clarivate for Web of Science and InCites, and more than €16 million excluding VAT (more than €19 million including VAT) to Elsevier for Scopus and SciVal. In the discussion and conclusions, the paper reflects on the perceived omission of expenditure on subscribed services in debates on free software–based and open-tool alternatives and in the context of CoARA, and open science; and raises questions for debate from a more integrative and critical perspective, taking into account the expenditure on licenses for subscribed commercial services.