Open Science is a paradigm shift that seeks to make scientific research, data and their dissemination available to all levels of a researching society and the public. As an aspect of Open Science, Open Research Data (ORD) facilitates access to and reuse of research data. This in turn promotes better, more effective research for the benefit of society as a whole. Through the principles of open access and reusability of research data, ORD practices support transparent and reproducible research findings. Moreover, ORD fosters collaboration by promoting exchange among researchers across disciplines, legal systems and national borders, thus enabling creativity and innovation to thrive.
The FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) are to be applied to publicly financed research data, and the ORD Strategy formulates principles specifying that research data should be as open as possible, respecting disciplinary diversity, interoperable, internationally networked, and enabled to be sustainably financed.
Researchers and research communities are central to the ORD Strategy. Access to research data is handled in a variety of ways in different disciplines and institutions. One of the main objectives of the ORD Strategy is targeted at the development and support of ORD solutions based on ORD practices from the respective research communities.
The ORD Strategy also formulates the following additional objectives: consolidation and strategic development of infrastructures and services – on the basis of a coordinated governance while safeguarding the autonomy of institutions; skill development and the sharing of best practices between researchers; and the development of systemic, supportive framework conditions for institutions and research communities.
The ORD Strategy is developed on the basis of an agreement with the SERI and in coordination with the ERI partners. It is supported by the ETH Board, the SNSF, ETH Zurich, EPF Lausanne and the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences. The measures and the implementation steps of the Strategy will be specified into an action plan by the end of the year.
Further information on the ORD Strategy