Global Open Research Commons IG

The coordination of data infrastructure on various levels (country, continent, discipline, sector) is on the increase. So called “Open Science Commons” or “Data commons” provide a shared virtual space or platform that provides a marketplace for data and services. Examples include the European Open Science Cloud, the Australian Research Data Commons, the African Open Science Platform, open government portals and initiatives outside traditional research contexts. Coordinating across these initiatives to enable a network of interoperable data commons is the goal. 

The Interest Group will provide a neutral place where people have conversations about Open Research Commons. It will function in a similar vein to the funders forum – space will be given to raise topics of mutual interest, track trends and reach consensus on priorities. The Group will work to reach a shared understanding of what a “Commons” is in the research data space; what functionality, coverage and characteristics does such an initiative require and how can this be coordinated at a global level? The IG Chairs will also proactively look outside the RDA community to connect with parallel initiatives in other spaces, whether in national / regional contexts or in other fora such as the OECD, G7 Open Science Working Group, UN’s Expert Advisory Group on a Data Revolution for Sustainable Development, CODATA, GO-FAIR and others. Recognising the broad scope, we will focus initially on Data Commons and extend to Open Science Commons as work progresses.

This Interest Group is closely aligned to the core mission of RDA as it is inherently engaged in building the social and technical bridges that enable data sharing. It will own the overall remit of coordinating the delivery of a Global Open Science Commons and monitor progress made within related RDA Working Groups and other initiatives to achieve this goal. Indeed, the scope is so large that the Interest Group is expected to run for several years and coordinate across many Working Groups, primarily those that are convened within this RDA IG forum but also aligning with existing WG/IG of relevance.

The Interest Group will help to coordinate and steer initiatives, assisting implementers to maintain focus while also providing wider context and meaning. It will encourage and facilitate global collaboration, helping to minimise data silos and adoption of standards and protocols to facilitate a cross-country and cross-discipline global open science commons. The Group will necessarily be large and diverse, representing many different stakeholder groups, sectors and countries. Chairs come from 5 different continents given the breadth of remit and need for genuine global engagement.