The CGIAR Consortium produces a wide range of data, knowledge, publications and other information products such as databases, processes and software. Members of the CGIAR Consortium currently have their own individual policies and practices regarding data management, but the new CGIAR Research Programs tackling the cross-cutting issues in agricultural development require a consolidated approach.
Headway was made when the CGIAR Consortium approved the “CGIAR Principles on the Management of Intellectual Assets” ‘What is now required is both a clear vision, and a set of common principles specifically for data and knowledge management if we want our research products to travel and increase the likelihood of our impact’ says Enrica Porcari, Acting Director of Communications at the CGIAR Consortium. ‘Open access is a means, not a goal’ adds Elise Perset, Legal Counsel for the CGIAR Consortium.
A common structure will guide our efforts to improve and accelerate the delivery, access and interoperability of our data and knowledge products –and to better serve the CGIAR Consortium and its partners. This week in Montpellier, representatives from CGIAR Research Programs and members of the CGIAR Consortium are working to make the vision a reality. Collectively CGIAR has a huge amount of experience in this area already, and the group will consider some of the current activities which have the potential for scaling up CGIAR Consortium-wide and that ‘really change the game’ as Frank Rijsberman, CEO of CGIAR Consortium described it when he opened the meeting and challenged the group to think big.
Looking at THE WHAT as well as discussing THE HOW
The WHAT is one of the major objectives of the workshop –a collective vision and set of principles for a data and knowledge management capacity, to better support international agricultural research for development. A set of implementable ideas with a clear road map will be identified during the two days.
The HOW will explore which environments, incentives and rewards need to be put in place to ensure CGIAR scientists develop, document and share outputs. These could range from integrating the strategy into performance contracts and annual performance processes to the legal and intellectual property enablers required to support the vision and principle.
This workshop is the first step in a complex and ongoing process. An “Agriculture Research Data and Knowledge Commons” cannot be built in a day – but this week concrete action is being taken to ensure, collectively, that CGIAR research data and knowledge will be more available, accessible and applicable in the future.
Check back for updates and outputs from the workshop.
For more information:
Insights into researcher behavior: attitudes towards opening access
Working together to better manage CGIAR intellectual assets
Triple A Framework
Featured image: Open access logo.
terrific work! great story to be shared with agric R&D around the world!
Thank you Helen. Indeed exciting opportunities ahead!
Would like to be involved in those meetings
I am sending you an email now with some more details
Open access and sharing databases, processes and software will definitely be an added advantage to boost R & D and to serve the mankind across globe, provided IPR of scientists who own the technology.
Thank you Dr Desai for your comment. Certainly scientists should always be properly attributed for their innovations. This attitude must be a cornerstone of the move towards open access. Am I correct in interpreting your comment in this way?