Citation

Hooft RWW, Harrison E, Martin CS. F1000Res. 2023; 12: ELIXIR-88.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, F1000 Research)

DOI

10.12688/f1000research.128167.2

PMID

37065508

PMCID

PMC10102711

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The work of data research infrastructure operators is poorly understood, yet the services they provide are used by millions of scientists across the planet. Policy and implications: As the data services and the underlying infrastructure are typically funded through the public purse, it is essential that policymakers, research funders, experts reviewing funding proposals, and possibly even end-users are equipped with a good understanding of the daily tasks of service providers.

Recommendations: We suggest drawing parallels between research data infrastructure and road infrastructure. To trigger the imagination and foster understanding, this policy brief contains a table of corresponding aspects of the two classes of infrastructure, and a table of policy implications.

CONCLUSIONS: Just as economists and specialist evaluators are typically brought in to inform policies and funding decisions for road infrastructure, we encourage this to also be done for research infrastructures.

Language: en

Keywords

Sustainability; *Policy; Infrastructure Funding; Research Data; Research Infrastructure