Research infrastructures, pivotal for advancing Open Science, were the centerpiece of a dedicated session during the GenOA Week, held on November 7 at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) headquarters in Genoa. Organized by the "Alessandro Faedo" Institute of Information Science and Technologies (ISTI), the session explored how these infrastructures contribute to inclusivity, transparency, and reproducibility in scientific research.
GenOA Week, a flagship event for the Italian Open Science community since 2019, is a collaborative initiative of the University of Genova, the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), CNR, and the Liguria section of the Italian Association of Libraries (AIB Liguria).
Research infrastructures are integral to modern science, enabling the collection, analysis, and sharing of data while fostering collaboration across disciplines. They provide essential services such as data access, analytical tools, and large-scale system integration. These capabilities align with the UNESCO Recommendation for Open Science, underscoring their role as a pillar of global scientific progress.
CNR has been instrumental in developing both horizontal and thematic research infrastructures. Horizontal infrastructures, like D4Science and OpenAIRE, serve diverse research communities, while thematic infrastructures, such as IPERION HS (cultural heritage) and ETIP geothermal (geothermal energy), focus on specific disciplines.
CNR-ISTI’s expertise in digital tools has been leveraged to enhance the sustainability and impact of research infrastructures. Initiatives like IPERION HS, ITINERIS, and FOSSR benefit from collaborative research environments powered by the D4Science infrastructure, ensuring transparency and reproducibility of research results.
OpenAIRE services, including Zenodo for FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data publication, OpenAIRE CONNECT for research discovery, and OpenAIRE MONITOR for assessing open science practices, further augment these efforts.
Presenters also highlighted the importance of Transnational Access (TNA) programs, which offer free access to physical infrastructures like marine observatories, benefiting both researchers and businesses. This access fosters innovation and broadens the impact of scientific initiatives.
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