Findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR) data are an essential ingredient for modern research. This also applies to other research objects, such as software, queries and workflows. Its availability determines the extent to which research is repeatable and verifiable. Moreover, new research becomes more efficient if it can make use of existing sources.
The ambition of the EOSC is to provide European researchers, innovators, companies and citizens with a federated and open multi-disciplinary environment where they can publish, find and re-use data, tools and services for research, innovation and educational purposes.
This requires, for example, persistent identification of digital objects, shared description standards and open connections between computers. The biggest challenge, however, is to ensure that these FAIR practices are widely accepted and used.
The FAIR-IMPACT project
FAIR-IMPACT will identify proven solutions in different scientific domains and facilitate their application in other domains, not only for data, but also for other research objects. This includes the overall FAIRification of different research objects, from assigning and managing identifiers, the semantic description of the objects, to making them interoperable and reusable.
DANS itself will be responsible for a work package that focuses on the further development of FAIR measurements, assessment tools and the development of domain-oriented certification requirements for various research objects. Together with SURF – the other Dutch participant in the project – DANS will, among other things, work on the implementation of persistent identifiers accepted by the EOSC.
The FAIR-IMPACT project builds on the FAIRsFAIR project, coordinated by DANS as well, which received an excellent mid-term evaluation and will end this year.
FAIRCORE4EOSC
In addition to FAIR-IMPACT, DANS also participates in another project awarded by the EC in the Horizon Europe Programme, FAIRCORE4EOSC. DANS is responsible for a work package in which technical components are developed that increase the findability and interoperability of research results in the EOSC. The work package is led by the Chief Technical Officer of DANS, Wim Hugo.
