We live in an age where the amounts of data increase exponentially, and in relation to scientific research this both presents challenges and considerable opportunities in terms of making our research more efficient. The challenges consist not least of preserving and organising the enormous amounts of research data without losing sight of important issues in relation to origin, context, internationalisation and safety.
At the same time, the advantages are considerable. With the right infrastructure, researchers from many different research environments will be able to collaborate and share different types of data, thereby strengthening cross-disciplinary scientific research. The researchers will be able to use, reuse and combine data, thus increasing the research productivity. In other words, an increased accessibility and openness in relation to research data will give researchers the possibility to engage in a new and improved scientific approach that will benefit society considerably.
Giving researchers access to data which have not necessarily been generated within their own field of research has an enormous potential. But in order to be able to realise such a potential, it is necessary to structure our information and data, in a long-term as well as in a global perspective.
On the basis of the EU Commission’s recommendation of 17 July 2012, the Ministry will focus on the effort of preserving and ensuring free access to scientific information, in consultation with the Danish universities, research councils and foundations, as well as players involved in e-infrastructure.