Domain-specific IR

Search technology has advanced rapidly in recent years, with Large Language Models (LLMs), dense retrieval, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) transforming how users discover and interact with information. However, many real-world search applications operate within specialised domains, from enterprise search and healthcare-related search to scientific literature discovery and patent prior-art search. In these settings, off-the-shelf search tools, general-purpose retrieval techniques, and even the sophisticated algorithms behind Web search engines are often insufficient.

Domain-specific search presents unique challenges. Collections contain specialised terminology and document types, users require transparency and trust in the retrieval process, and success is often measured by comprehensive recall rather than returning only a handful of highly relevant documents. These requirements explain why classical information retrieval techniques, such as inverted indexes and BM25, continue to play a central role.

This talk will explore the closely related areas of domain-specific search, professional search, and enterprise search, placing them in the broader context of Web search. We will compare these settings across several dimensions, including user needs, retrieval objectives, and evaluation. The goal of this ESSIR lecture is to demonstrate that information retrieval extends far beyond Web search and to highlight the rich research challenges and practical opportunities that arise when designing search systems for specialised domains. Hopefully, it will also inspire you to explore this exciting and rapidly evolving area of information retrieval in greater depth.

Hopefully, it will also inspire you to explore this exciting and rapidly evolving area of information retrieval in greater depth (a good starting point is the hot new book entitled “Domain-specific Information Retrieval” forthcoming in the “Foundations and Trends in Information Retrieval” book series and one of the co-authors also serves as a co-organisers of ESSIR 2026 :-)