National Open Research Forum

Ireland’s National Open Research Forum (NORF) was established in 2017 to drive the Irish agenda for Open Research. NORF provides a space for communication, consultation and cooperation among key stakeholders in the research system regarding strategic issues and overarching policies and procedures in open research. The Forum combines the expertise of representatives from policy, research funding organisations, research performing organisations, the library sector, enterprise and other key stakeholders in the research system across Ireland. 

NORF is funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research and Innovation and Science through the Higher Education Authority (HEA). It is managed by the Digital Repository of Ireland (DRI), which is headquartered under the legal entity of the Royal Irish Academy. It is co-chaired by the Health Research Board (HRB) and the HEA.

There are two main strands of NORF’s role:

• To develop and propose national actions to address the challenges of changing the Irish research system to strengthen, promote or better support open research practices as outlined in the National Framework on the Transition to an Open Research Environment (2019) and the National Action Plan for Open Research 2022-2030. Periodic reviews of the National Action Plan will be conducted to review progress made and release updates with further actions.
• To oversee and guide implementation of the National Action Plan for Open Research within the context of Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy. NORF’s Open Research Fund, provided by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) through the HEA, supports the delivery of priority actions in the National Action Plan. This fund is managed by the Digital Repository of Ireland (DRI) and is distributed through an onward allocation process overseen by NORF.

NORF carries out a number of activities in order to fulfil its role. These include:

• Engaging with stakeholders and the public on open research and related issues through its governance structure, discourses, training and events.
• Helping to inform and advise policy making in Ireland and internationally.
• Advocating for open research and its impacts and benefits for the national research system. 
• Supporting projects in receipt of NORF funding to deliver actions in the National Action Plan for Open Research.
• Awarding grants and commissioning expert reports for specific purposes to advance and accelerate Ireland’s progress in open research.

DRI and NORF

As of 2022, DRI is the coordinating organisation for the National Open Research Forum. DRI staff members Dr. Daniel Bangert and Dr. Michelle Doran coordinate NORF’s efforts to drive the national agenda for open research, including developing and supporting actions to strengthen, promote and better support national objectives for open research  as outlined in the National Framework on the Transition to an Open Research Environment (2019) and the National Action Plan for Open Research 2022-2030. Since 2022, NORF and DRI have operated and administered a NORF Open Research Fund which allocates funding to deliver actions prioritised in the National Action Plan for Open Research. As National Open Research Coordinator, Daniel Bangert represents Ireland on several international open science groups, including the Council for National Open Science Coordination and the Informal Commission Expert Group on National Points of Reference on Scientific Information. 

DRI Interim Director Dr Lisa Griffith is a member of the Core Oversight Group and the Grants Oversight Committee.

DRI Software Engineer Dr Kathryn Cassidy is part of the NORF Infrastructure Working Group and former staff member Timea Biro co-chaired the FAIR data Working Group.

Contact Details

If you would like to find out more about the National Open Research Forum, or explore opportunities to become involved, please contact norf@ria.ie 

The National Open Research Forum is a Government of Ireland initiative, funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, through the Higher Education Authority