Platform as a service (PAAS) featuring an online computer software ecommerce platform used for connecting scientists and research suppliers in any scientific discipline, facilitating communication with individual experts, academic core facilities, government labs and for-profit companies that offer any form of research as a service, and enabling online discussions and social networking; Design and development of on-line computer software systems, namely, design and development of an online social networking and communications platform for scientists and research suppliers to share information, create custom studies, get price quotes, establish legal agreements and purchase research services and custom products; Platform as a service (PAAS) featuring an online social networking and communications platform used to enable research suppliers to communicate with potential customers, exchange information and sell their custom research services and products; Platform as a service (PAAS) featuring an online platform used to view, evaluate, and purchase from suppliers for both internal and external research sourcing projects and used for sharing of scientific information and institutional knowledge across a research organization through a central hub