[grep2]

Actually, there are quite a few points where modern technologies would allow for a significant streamlining of research processes. Off the top of my head (as I work in the field):

1. data acquisition - you won't believe in how many labs devices with a computer interface (gpib or whatever) are running in standalone mode, costing hours in grad student hours where parameters are changed and values are read by hand - in the best case people duct-tape something together with a labview program. No. Just No.

2. collaborative data sharing - if you want to show your boss a graph, you email him a jpg - where is the site to upload a csv and show a graph to other people/edit together?

3. Writing papers: The state of the art is mailing a LaTeX(!) or Doc(!) file to your colleagues with .v1.edited appended... Reviewing the published material is just the last step.

PS: I'm working on a solution for #3 (Etherpad + LaTeX preview + export in the appropriate journal format). Drop me a line if you're interested in details.

[davidblondeau]

My company, Collaborative Drug Discovery (https://www.collaborativedrug.com) has been developing and offering a secure collaborative data sharing environment for drug discovery data (chemistry and SAR data). There are other tools in the space as well though labs and companies are slow to change. The sector is very secretive and closed so it takes time for habits to change.

Some factors have been promoting more collaboration and data sharing:

* The increasing cost of research

* Specialization and the emergence of micro-biotech (5 people biotech startups)

* Foundations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that push for more collaboration amongst recipients of their grants (disclaimer: Collaborative Drug Discovery has received grants from the Gates foundation as well)