Science Europe launched its Practical Guide to Sustainable Research Data and provides guidance on how to ensure the long-term preservation and accessibility of research data.
The publication lays out three complementary maturity matrices for funders, performers, and data infrastructures to help create a common understanding of the approaches needed by the different stakeholders involved.
The matrices will allow organisations to evaluate the current status of their policies and practices, support the development of organisational ‘agendas for research data’ to ensure data sustainability, and encourage the alignment of policies with those of other organisations. Aligned approaches towards sustainable research data will provide a framework for researchers to share their data in a sustainable way and further support Open Science in becoming the ‘new normal’ in research.
“Open Science builds on the fundamental features of research and innovation: transparency, openness, verification, and reproducibility. It should be deeply embedded within the practice of research but to achieve such change, appropriate policies and practices must be in place throughout the whole research and innovation system” explained Professor Melanie Welham, Executive Chair UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Science Europe Governing Board Member, in the guide’s foreword.
“The matrices presented in this guide support organisations to develop and enhance their own policies and practices towards the sustainability and openness of research data, and encourage dialogue and collaboration with like-minded organisations. This directly supports the advancement of Open Science as a whole and helps it become an increasing part of a shared research culture” added Professor Roland Fischer, Vice-President of German Research Foundation (DFG) and Science Europe Governing Board Member.
Visit the website for more information and to download the guide as PDF file
David Spichiger, SCS
02.06.2021