DRI are pleased to share the news that the European Commissions has recognised the Research Data Alliance (RDA) as a non-standards body issuing technical specifications.
DRI are pleased to share the news that the European Commission has recognised the Research Data Alliance (RDA) as a non-standards body issuing technical specifications, and that the RDA's first four outputs have been approved for public procurement in Europe. This recognition for RDA follows almost a year of interaction and efforts by RDA in Europe. The European Multistakeholder Platform (composed of EU member state and international & EU standards bodies representatives) favourably evaluated the application by RDA.
DRI are partners in RDA Europe’s co-ordinating support activity. The goal of RDA is to accelerate international data-driven innovation and discovery by facilitating research data sharing and exchange. This is achieved through the development, adoption, and deployment of infrastructure, policy, practice, standards, and other deliverables. The emphasis of RDA is adoption and deployment as the result of focussed, short-term effort.
The set of RDA Recommendations submitted for recognition are:
- The Basic Vocabulary of Foundational Terminology and Query Tool – produced by the Data Foundation & Terminology WG which ensures researchers use a common terminology when referring to data.
- The Data Type Model and Registry published by the Data Type Registries WG providing machine-readable and researcher-accessible registries of data types that support the accurate use of data
- The Machine Actionable Policy Templates produced by the Practical Policy WG designed to support data sharing and interchange between communities.
- The Persistent Identifier Type Registry produced by the PID Information Types WG, a conceptual model for structuring typed information to better identify PIDs, common interface for access to this information.
The European Commission can identify ICT technical specifications that are not national, European, or international standards, provided they meet precise requirements.
The Recommendations are developed on the basis of open decision-making and part of a collaborative and consensus-based process. The success of the effort sets a two-fold precedent for RDA, confirming that it is an open, consensus-based and transparent non-profit making membership organisation that develops ICT technical specifications.
In addition, the four technical specifications in question can be referenced in public procurement and their implementation and uptake will encourage competition, promote interoperability and innovation, and facilitate the provision of cross-border & cross-regional services.
Hilary Hanahoe, RDA Secretariat & Director of Trust-IT Services Ltd. stated “We are extremely proud of this achievement and stamp of approval from a broad range of European member states and standards bodies. It is a wonderful recognition of the meticulous effort and energy of the RDA members, the producers of these implementable recommendations. This immensely important European milestone is a best practice to be implemented in other RDA regions and at international level. Of course this is just the beginning, we have another 9 technical specifications ready to be evaluated.”
