NPOS Final Report Exploring and Optimising the Dutch Data Landscape
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Report Exploring and optimising the Dutch data landscape Final report of the project team “Exploring and optimising the national data landscape”, part of the FAIR data programme line NPOS (2020) Final report Exploring and optimising the Dutch data landscape Colophon Copyright © 2020 National Programme Open Science / programme line FAIR data Autors: Melle de Vries (Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences, KNAW), Project Manager Ruben Kok (Dutch Techcentre for Lifesciences, DTL) Maurice Bouwhuis (SURF) Pieter Schipper (Dutch Research Council/Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, NWO) Title: NPOS (2020) Final report Exploring and optimising the Dutch data landscape English translation: Livewords Maastricht Use, reproduction and distribution of the content of this report is permitted if referenced to this report. The views of the report’s authors do not necessarily reflect those of the organisations for which they work. NPOS (2020) Final report Exploring and optimising the Dutch data landscape 1 Contents Summary ................................................................................................................................. 4 Chapter 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................... 8 Background ......................................................................................................................... 8 Approach ............................................................................................................................. 8 Project scope ....................................................................................................................... 9 Reader’s guide .................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 2. National and international trends and developments .......................................... 10 The Netherlands ................................................................................................................ 10 Europe ............................................................................................................................... 14 Worldwide .......................................................................................................................... 20 Chapter 3. Services .............................................................................................................. 22 A. Coordination and networks ........................................................................................... 23 B. Knowledge development and dissemination ................................................................. 25 C. Repositories and other facilities .................................................................................... 26 D. Support and training ..................................................................................................... 31 Chapter 4. Organisations ...................................................................................................... 32 Policy organisations .......................................................................................................... 32 Research funding bodies ................................................................................................... 33 Research institutions ......................................................................................................... 34 Service organisations ........................................................................................................ 35 Cooperation ....................................................................................................................... 36 National knowledge institutions ......................................................................................... 40 Commercial parties ........................................................................................................... 41 Chapter 5. Regulatory aspects ............................................................................................. 43 Chapter 6. Governance ......................................................................................................... 47 Governance of research at national level .......................................................................... 47 Support at national level .................................................................................................... 49 Local level ......................................................................................................................... 51 Consultation structures ...................................................................................................... 51 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 53 Chapter 7. Conclusions and recommendations .................................................................... 56 Findings ............................................................................................................................. 56 Recommendations ............................................................................................................ 58 A roadmap for the FAIR Data programme line .................................................................. 62 NPOS (2020) Final report Exploring and optimising the Dutch data landscape 2 Appendices ........................................................................................................................... 65 NPOS (2020) Final report Exploring and optimising the Dutch data landscape 3 Summary Study This paper is the final report on the National Open Science Programme project ‘Exploring and optimising the Dutch data landscape’. The project commenced in May 2019 and involved studying various documents and websites, talking to stakeholders, holding panel meetings and conducting working visits. The focus was on organisational matters: which parties and structures play a role in the Dutch data landscape? It proved difficult to acquire a detailed and exhaustive overview, on the one hand because the subject ‘data landscape’ or ‘data services’ is not clearly delineated and on the other because many matters are in fact organised, but not always in an obvious way. Our conclusions, in brief, are as follows. The Netherlands has an abundant but fragmented and complex data landscape, not only in terms of data services but also with regard to the development and dissemination of knowledge concerning research data management. The risk is that there will be overlaps and inefficiency and that we will miss out on opportunities for connectivity and innovation. Researchers themselves say that they lack an overview. It is important to point out that our study concerns the Dutch national data landscape, whereas science is essentially an international affair. Dutch researchers often take part in international projects and infrastructures, making use of facilities and tools outside the country’s borders. At the same time, research clearly depends on national funding and rules, with the EU, the OECD, UNESCO and other international bodies relying heavily on countries in this respect. That requires national coordination, which will promote more effective use of available international resources and also deliver firmer guarantees for Dutch input at international level. Optimisation The project also makes proposals for optimising the Dutch data landscape through the National Open Science Programme’s FAIR data programme line. NPOS FAIR data programme line The aim of this programme line is to ensure appropriate facilities and satisfy other criteria for optimising the use/reuse of research data in the Netherlands, in line with European and other international trends and developments: • A consistent system for FAIR access to research data: Practical elaboration and implementation of FAIR criteria within technical and policy parameters. • Sustainable storage of research data for reuse: Research data stored in a consistent, reliable and sustainable manner. • Implementing standards to achieve interoperability of datasets across disciplines, where possible making use of existing interoperability between data management systems in organisations. Essentially, by introducing some form of coordination, the programme seeks to achieve closer alignment, a better overview, greater synergy and more progress in the well-stocked Dutch data landscape with a view to reusing research data optimally in an international context (which is becoming ever more critical given the growing importance of artificial intelligence and data science). NPOS (2020) Final report Exploring and optimising the Dutch data landscape 4 The proposed approach uses existing structures/organisations as much as possible, but within a more clearly delineated framework. The recommendation is to put the NPOS Steering Group in charge for the next few years during the transition phase, assisted by a Programme Board and a small, temporary coordination centre. In addition to closer coordination, real progress towards optimising the reuse of research data will require additional funding (in particular for data stewards) and improvements to recognition and reward mechanisms. Roadmap for the FAIR data programme line: initial efforts Proposed actions 1. Set up a National Data Coordination and Expertise Centre (NDCE) for at least the 2020-2025 period under the auspices of the NPOS Steering