The National Research Council Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (NRC-CISTI), Canada, recently launched a new initiative, Gateway to Scientific Data, for researchers to access scientific data generated during the research process. Researchers now have a central gateway for easier access to Canadian scientific, technical and medical (STM) data sets and other important data repositories.
The Gateway to Scientific Data will help ensure that the data generated by Canadian researchers is more easily accessible so that it can be re-used for other research endeavours. With the ability to access and use data from a multitude of sources, researchers will be better positioned to turn research into discoveries and innovations. The initiative is projected as an important part of NRC-CISTI's efforts to provide researchers with access to the information resources they need to remain at the forefront of R&D developments in Canada and around the world.
Along with links to data sets, the new Gateway also provides links to selected policies and best practices guiding data management and curation activities in Canada. It also includes links to selected journals and upcoming conferences and meetings.
NRC-CISTI is coordinating this multi-disciplinary effort, focusing on the necessary actions, next steps and leadership roles that researchers and institutions can take to ensure Canada's research data is accessible and usable for current and future generations of researchers. The Gateway to Scientific Data is part of NRC-CISTI's contribution to a broader national initiative undertaken by the Research Data Strategy (RDS) Working Group to address the challenges and issues surrounding the access and preservation of data arising from Canadian research.
