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Page 8 of 9 Cerri. Chem Synth 2023;3:18 https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/cs.2022.37

In experiences from 2005 to 2007, the power of technology then being put into action suggested what today
appears normal for people working and learning at a distance. At the time, however, it was not yet widely
exploited in its complete spectrum of capacities to the extent true within EnCOrE. We were convinced of
the importance of our progress and began to propose to several agencies to advance the work.
Unfortunately, none understood the interest of working on the “collective brain” put into action at a
[4,6]
distance, and the projects proposed were not considered research in either chemistry or informatics
(computer science or artificial intelligence) that merited long-term support. Inter- and multi-disciplinarity
and the power of information and communication technologies for science construction did not attract
those evaluating the submitted research proposals.

Later, information technology companies (e.g., Zoom or Microsoft and many others) presented tools that
were apparently similar but realistically were incomplete concerning the one we had demonstrated years
ago. Despite what is often declared, the lesson learned is that interdisciplinary progress is rarely sponsored
because advances are all too often expected as a side effect of pure disciplinary research plans. Of course,
this policy can be understood but does not fit with the observation - supported by many historical examples
[5]
- that most new discoveries and inventions occurred serendipitously (see, e.g., Ref. ) within projects
involving high risk, not planned in detail according to the current state of the art. This reality was embedded
in the construction of EnCOrE as an encyclopedia supporting information, knowledge, and human learning
(Figure 3, from Ref. ).
[1]
CONCLUSION
One of Prof. Krief’s essential attributes is his invaluable curiosity for innovative concepts, methods, and
tools, even when they seem far from his previous experience. This ambition to master advances from other
disciplines (concerning our collaboration: computer science, cognitive science, artificial intelligence) by
interacting with experts has always been related to a profound modesty, witnessing his character as a
genuinely modern scientist.

The author, who has known several colleagues with different expertise who have been interested in his
approach to informatics, considers Prof. Krief one of the few able to establish a true partnership between
our two very different disciplines. If modern scientists are expected to be ambitious and modest, he is such a
person. It has always been a pleasure to accompany Prof. Krief in explorations regarding the future of
chemistry based on information, knowledge, and human learning, the three components we have long
identified as necessary, if not sufficient, for the progress of the discipline and, in general, for the
advancement of science. The author is confident that the future will acknowledge the pioneering work of
Prof. Krief for his various achievements in organic chemistry, documented by several contributions in this
journal issue, and especially for his broad and telescopic vision of the conditions fostering the advancement
of science by collective knowledge, such as those he has demonstrated to the author in the last 20 years.

DECLARATIONS
Authors’ contributions
The author contributed solely to the article.

Availability of data and materials
Not applicable.