Keywords
Research Data, Research Infrastructure, Infrastructure Funding, Sustainability
This article is included in the Research on Research, Policy & Culture gateway.
This article is included in the ELIXIR gateway.
Research Data, Research Infrastructure, Infrastructure Funding, Sustainability
We have taken up the suggestions from the reviewers to improve the paper. The first version had a single comparison table; in the second version this table has been split into two: a table of comparable aspects, and a table of comparable policy implications. Further, the comparisons have undergone a further round of editing.
See the authors' detailed response to the review by Silvia Vignetti
See the authors' detailed response to the review by Frédéric Sgard
Data-intensive research depends on data and data services, such as databases, software and tools, and standards. These are often made available to end-users through research infrastructure. Such a research infrastructure for biological data and bioinformatics service in Europe is ELIXIR.1
As is common for many types of infrastructure (especially those that are free at the point of use), the existence of research infrastructure, like the services provided by ELIXIR, is often taken for granted by their users. Their importance is only noticed when they are (temporarily) unavailable, or worse, when they disappear due to discontinued funding.2,3 In the Kano model, infrastructure services are must-be qualities: their proper functioning does not make the users happy, but service disruptions are strong dissatisfiers.
As research infrastructures and their services are typically funded through the public purse, it is essential that policy makers, research funders, experts reviewing funding proposals, and possibly even end-users are equipped with a good understanding of the daily tasks of service providers. We have noticed that this is not often the case, and this becomes an issue when this lack of understanding affects the funding of research infrastructures (funding decisions are typically made based on scientific advice to funding bodies). To foster better understanding, this policy brief provides a comparison table of features of data infrastructure and their relatable counterparts in road infrastructure (Table 1).
We believe that this approach can help, firstly because the change in mindset makes it possible to see consequences of certain choices more clearly, especially those linked to funding of research infrastructures. Secondly, many people (decision makers and those influencing the decisions), even those working in research, are much more accustomed to road infrastructure setup and road infrastructure disruptions than to research infrastructure setup and disruptions; this increased familiarity increases the chances that consequences of policy decisions are foreseen.
The comparison between research data infrastructure and road infrastructure has many hooks to support productive discussions, and decisions, on research infrastructure funding and sustainability governance. Some examples of policy implications following from the comparison are given in Table 2.
Given that we, the co-authors, all work in research infrastructures, there is an inherent bias in the approach presented, just like when Sutherland et al.4 published their “20 things politicians need to know about science”. However, we hope our thoughts have practical use: policymaking is complex and multifaceted, as astutely explained in “20 things scientists need to know about policy”. The comparison tables are simply our contribution to fostering longer-term sustainability of infrastructures that already exist, that are widely used across the world, and that have typically received significant public financing over the years.
Furthermore, the comparison tables are likely to support efforts of both research infrastructure operators and policymakers in more accurately conveying to taxpayers the public value of research infrastructures, in addition to their role as enablers of scientific discovery and applications of societal benefit. The word ‘enablers’ is perhaps the most important message to convey: just like a road enables travel (and a research infrastructure enables research), it is questionable whether it is right to ask the road construction/maintenance company (and the research infrastructure operator) whether the road (and the research infrastructure) brings value to society. Economists and evaluation specialists are very well placed and qualified (and likely unbiased) to answer complex questions around the public value of financing roads and research infrastructures.5,6
Recommendation 1: When formulating opinions and decisions on research data infrastructure funding and sustainability governance, compare them with that of road infrastructure. The change of frame may bring new insights.
Recommendation 2: Consider informing policies and funding decisions relating to existing and future research infrastructure with support from economists and specialist evaluators.
We welcome any additional ideas for the comparison as well as discussion on improving the existing tables as comments to this paper. For instance, the parallels could be improved by considering other infrastructures delivering public services, such as water supply and sewage systems. We tried, but found it difficult, to broaden the set of comparisons to also include a sustainable travel angle (e.g. examples covering public transport versus private car travel). Considering the climate emergency, this would be a useful and still relatable expansion of the approach.
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Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed.
Reviewer Expertise: Science policy
Does the paper provide a comprehensive overview of the policy and the context of its implementation in a way which is accessible to a general reader?
Yes
Is the discussion on the implications clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature?
Partly
Are the recommendations made clear, balanced, and justified on the basis of the presented arguments?
Yes
Competing Interests: I hereby declare that, in reviewing the article 'The road to success: drawing parallels between 'road' and 'research data' infrastructures to foster understanding between service providers, funders and policymakers' by Hooft RWW and Martin CST, no conflict of interest applied. In the interest of full transparency, I report herewith the non-financial relationships I have with one of the authors of the paper, Martin C.S.: - During the period 01/01/2018-01/06/2020, on behalf of our own institutes (CSIL and ELIXIR) we were both members of the research team of the project ‘Charting Impact Pathways of Investment in Research Infrastructure’ a research project granted by H2020 programme aimed at developing a model describing the socio-economic impact of research infrastructures and of their related financial investments. In the context of this project, we co-authored the report Deliverable 5.1 of the RI-PATHS Project. - Since the 1st of September 2022, we are both part of the PathOS project, a Horizon Europe programme aiming to collect concrete evidence of Open Science effects and study the pathways of Open Science practices. The project will last four years and we will collaborate to develop a joint case study. We work on PathOS for two different institutions, being partners in the project. They are supposed to be one of the case studies and we are supposed to perform an analysis of impacts generated by one of the open resources they have. Two people are working from their side and three experts are working from our side, in addition to all the other project partners (8 institutions for a total of more than 30 people involved). However, both Martin and I have a more supervising role, while the other colleagues are more hands-on.
Reviewer Expertise: Public policy analysis and evaluation, infrastructure appraisal, economic evaluation
Does the paper provide a comprehensive overview of the policy and the context of its implementation in a way which is accessible to a general reader?
Yes
Is the discussion on the implications clearly and accurately presented and does it cite the current literature?
Yes
Are the recommendations made clear, balanced, and justified on the basis of the presented arguments?
Yes
Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed.
Reviewer Expertise: Science policy
Alongside their report, reviewers assign a status to the article:
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Version 1 23 Jan 23 |
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Provide sufficient details of any financial or non-financial competing interests to enable users to assess whether your comments might lead a reasonable person to question your impartiality. Consider the following examples, but note that this is not an exhaustive list:
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