ELSEVIER has acquired Social Science Research Network (SSRN), a social science and humanities research repository and online community, for an undisclosed amount. Amsterdam-based Elsevier already has its own scholarly collaboration network and platform, called Mendeley, and the company says it will integrate the two. Combined, Mendeley and SSRN have more than 7 million users. The acquisition will allow SSRN members to access Mendeley’s researcher professional profiles, “follow” capabilities and other person-to-person network communities, according to a news release. Elsevier and Mendeley plan to leverage New York-based SSRN for its social community strategy and access to social science research. SSRN employees will remain with the company, and SSRN will for now continue its freemium business model.
