UKOLN has welcomed the announcement of the launch and first plenary meeting of the Research Data Alliance (RDA), an organisation that supports research data sharing and exchange. The purpose of the Research Data Alliance is to accelerate international data-driven innovation and discovery by facilitating research data sharing and exchange, use and reuse, standards harmonisation, and discoverability. This will be achieved through the development and adoption of infrastructure, policy, practice, standards, and other deliverables.
As “big data” achieve international importance, the RDA has issued an open invitation to all interested parties to its first plenary, entitled Open Access Research Data without Barriers, to be held over 18-20 March 2013 in Gothenburg, Sweden. The RDA will be launched by sponsors from the European Commission, the US Government and the Australian Government, and by leaders in the data community. The Plenary will be a working meeting to accelerate discussion, Working and Interest Group interaction, and data community development.
Confirming her own attendance at the RDA’s first plenary meeting, Liz Lyon, Director of UKOLN, remarked, “As the importance of careful management of Big Data becomes increasingly evident, the appearance of the Research Data Alliance on the scene after just a few months of start-up activity can only be regarded as lending further support to the essential task of institutions worldwide in their role as stewards of large-scale data.”
The work of the Research Data Alliance will primarily be undertaken through its working groups. Participation in working groups, starting new working groups, and attendance at the twice-yearly plenary meetings is open to all.