Editorial: Research Institutions without Walls

A network can be loosely defined as a structure linking together individual and organizational actors with shared goals or values, though often not a shared geography. a large body of literature highlights the important interaction between knowledge and networks. interest in the impact of networking on knowledge translation and exchange, diffusion of innovations, knowledge management, and organizational outcomes is also increasing. there has been a growing interest in research networks and its implications on the creation of new knowledge. for example, there seems to be a consensus that those scientists who collaborate with each other are more productive, oftentimes producing 'better' science, than are individual investigators. an open science platform can empowers researchers in their daily work and where everybody has equal opportunity to seek, share and generate knowledge.