1 Director of the Nordic e-Science Globalisation InitiativeOpen Access to Research Data - Status, Issues and Outlook A report requested by the Nordic Council of Ministers Sverker Holmgren NordForsk Director of the Nordic e-Science Globalisation Initiative
2 An Assignment from the Nordic Council of Ministers“ÄK-U beslutade att ge NordForsk i uppdrag att initiera en kunskapsöversikt inom Open Access till forskningsdata, som beskriver utvecklingen i de nordiska länderna och EU, och identifierar möjliga gemensamma ramar (juridiska, tekniska, ekonomiska etc.), samt implikationerna av dessa för OA till forskningsdata.”
3 Why was the task given to NordForsk?NordForsk Workshop, Feb. 2013, Brussels (within the EC ERA: Science Europe, EARTO, EUA, LERU, NordForsk) NeGI/NordForsk Workshop, Aug. 2014, Reykjavik (Status reports from Nordic countries + external guests, including researchers, data initiatives, Resarch Data Alliance, the EC) NordForsk Strategy one of the nine principles: Ensuring Open Access. Pilot implementations in NeGI calls Nordic eScience Action Plan 2.0
4 An overall remark… Inseparable: Data management - Sharing of data – Open Access to data – Open Science (Open Access to research results) Open Science - transforming and opening up research through the use of ICT. Objectives: Making research more efficient, transparent and reproducible – improved quality Enable more extensive and faster interaction between research and society – improved impact
5 Researchers still have some doubts…Those data are mine!!!!!!!!! What´s in it for me? I am still analyzing the data! I do not have the resources needed! I cannot trust data produced by someone else! My findings will be discredited !
6 Other general commentsFully open access to research data can sometimes not be implemented. personal data data where access is regulated by contracts … However, well-structured processes and efficient resources for maintaining and sharing research results within a potentially distributed and persistent research community are still needed development of the procedures and resources for data management and data sharing are essential also here
7 Finland – A flagship initiative!Goal set by Ministry: Leading in the openness of science and research by 2017 Open Science and Research Roadmap launched in 2014 Handbook and Data Management Guide Sequence of implementation projects Follow-up and evaluation actions Established e-infrastructure Academy of Finland: Data management plan required, including plan for dissemination. Recommendation: Store data using national/international e-infrastructures. Reporting from projects includes data management and availability
8 Norway – First initiative in 2008Political goal: implement OECD principles (2007) Initiative stopped, the task seemed overwhelming!
9 Norway – New initiative in 2013Goal: Establish and implement a policy for Open Access to research data from research funded by the Norwegian Research Council Knowledge base: Survey among 1500 Norwegian researchers Implementation: Call pilots in 2014 Adapted funding mechanisms Extra funding for ”particularly high operating costs” Guide for researchers
10 Norwegian Research Council policyOpen Access to data by default, but exceptions legal requirements confidentiality obligations commercial use, if agreed in the contract cost of OA is larger than the benefit Recommendations and best practices, no hard rules lack of infrastructure lack of system for citations Costs for Open Access to data may be included in project budgets The policy will be reviewed
11 General findings on Open Acces to research dataNordic countries often started of early, but progress can now sometimes be considered as slow A large number of actors, of different types and at different levels, all producing reports and recommendations A need to agree on terms and concepts (“Big Data”) A need to analyse, consolidate and conclude w.r.t. recommendations … ”alignment” !? The recent report ERAC Opinion on Open Research Data contains a lot of valuable discussion and information! The NordForsk Report also contains a discussion on terminology
12 Identified issues w.r.t Open Access to research dataThe importance of structured data management, data management plans and data access policies even when OA is not possible/not implemented throughout the life-cycle of research projects – change of mind- set among several types of actors Data Management Plans and Data Access Policies The need to acknowledge diversity one-size-fits-all-solution fails! The need to understand the researchers perspective - barriers and enablers uptake will depend on anchoring in the research communities
13 Identified issues w.r.t Open Access to research dataThe need for deciding on what data to store and preserve economic and practical realities matter data connected to publications is not enough only data is not enough an evidence-based discussion on the value of data is needed The need to define the legal framework who owns research data collections? ownership might come with both opportunities and responsibilities The need for defining roles, mandates and interfaces historically often a single actor: research group/community specialised actors can increase quality and cost-effectiveness
14 Identified issues w.r.t Open Access to research dataThe need for defining funding streams and governance structures “we are not going to pay”-discussions a need for holistic discussions and leadership The need to understand the role of research funders the power of “money talks” leadership is expected The need to understand the role of academia. academia is part of society The need for sustainable data infrastructure. The need to be active on the international arena.
15 A few recommendations Continued exchange of knowledge and ideas at the Nordic level – focussing on a holistic approach Could result in ”alignment” ”Experiments” on fully implementing Open Science/Open Access are needed Start with ”easy cases”
16 Thank you for your attention!