News

From Frameworks to Action: Lessons from the FAIR-IMPACT co-located workshop at the RDA Plenary

Published on December 3, 2024

The RDA Plenary 23 started for some participants with the FAIR-IMPACT co-located workshop that RDA Europe organized together with CNRS (France). The DANS-led and Horizon Europe funded FAIR-IMPACT project brings together 24 research performing and research supporting organizations from across Europe to support the implementation of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).

The FAIR-IMPACT workshop in Costa Rica on November 11, 2024, put interoperability frameworks in a global perspective. Moderated by Liise Lehtsalu (RDA Europe), the workshop explored how research infrastructures, projects, and initiatives are approaching interoperability challenges in research commons.

Insights from Lightning Talks

The workshop started with a series of lightning talks, with speakers sharing insights on interoperability frameworks across different regions and domains:

Olivier Rouchon (CNRS) opened with an overview of the FAIR-IMPACT project and its connection to EOSC. He noted the overwhelming number of existing interoperability frameworks in the European context alone —7 major ones with 100+ recommendations between them—and emphasized the need for practical guidance to help users navigate this complexity.

CJ Woodford and Mikiko Tanifuji (RDA GORC International Model WG) presented the Global Open Research Commons (GORC) International Model, emphasizing its role as a knowledge base to streamline interoperability implementation. Workshop participants praised its adaptability and recommended the addition of practical examples of adoption.

Yann Le Franc (eScience Data Factory) introduced the Cross-Domain Interoperability Framework (CDIF), which emphasizes the existence of specifications and technologies to achieve interoperable FAIR implementation in and across scientific domains.

Keith Russell (ARDC) discussed the thematic Research Data Commons in Australia, highlighting the importance of ethics, flexible tools, and trust-building, particularly when working with Indigenous populations.

CJ Woodford (Digital Research Alliance of Canada) outlined the Alliance’s efforts to align GORC and RDA frameworks to achieve interoperability. He also highlighted challenges such as the lack of common language across DRI pillars and the need for multifaceted solutions to support active research data management; success hinges on equipping individuals with the skills and capacity to implement these solutions effectively.

Vaida Plankyte (ResearchSpace) presented REASON, a proposed Norwegian research commons focused on FAIR sample management and vertical interoperability. Key challenges included defining roles, addressing shared knowledge gaps, and integrating tools cost-effectively.

Identifying Key Challenges

Following the lightning talks, a lively discussed between the workshop participants ensued. In the process, several recurring challenges to interoperability in the context of research commons emerged:

Human and Organizational Factors: Participants emphasized the importance of training and cultural shifts to build shared understanding around data sharing and management.

Framework Overload: The sheer number of frameworks can be daunting. Practical methods to filter and apply relevant guidelines are needed.

Sustainability: Many interoperability efforts rely on project-based funding, raising concerns about long-term viability.

Balancing Technical, Organizational, and Legal Factors: Achieving interoperability requires cross-sector collaboration and flexible solutions tailored to diverse needs.

Practical Next Steps

Together, the workshop participants identified several actionable recommendations to advance interoperability in research commons:

Building Knowledge Bases: Collecting and showcasing real-world implementation stories can provide practitioners with a roadmap for adopting interoperability frameworks.

Training Programs: Developing tools and resources that support students and early-career researchers to engage with FAIR principles and implement FAIR in their local communities supports interoperability at global level.

Improving Governance and Sustainability: Robust funding models and governance structures are needed to ensure sustainability of interoperability frameworks.

The results of this workshop will feed into an upcoming FAIR-IMPACT deliverable that will focus on cross-domain recommendations and feedback for the EOSC Interoperability Framework, due in March 2025. The workshop underscored the need to translate high-level frameworks into actionable steps, maintain collaboration across communities, and sustain the momentum toward a FAIR and interoperable ecosystem.

Participants acknowledged that achieving interoperability is an ongoing journey, while also recognizing the progress achieved in the last 10 years. EOSC remains a key enabler of interoperability. And the RDA serves as a vital platform for fostering global convergence on interoperability.