The Setting Up of Virtual Communities for Research

We present a preview of the analysis of the participation of inter-institutional research teams and an academic community on virtual, tailor-made platforms for the sharing of information among the members of each group. The institutional conditions and the characteristics of academic workers and communication tools are analysed and we present a summary of the difficulties in collaboration among researchers using tools designed to coordinate research activities. Finally some thoughts are expressed on the consequences of this situation for a regional research centre working with limited financial resources.