The Open University has announced its successful bid for a research grant in the CHISTERA Open Research Data & Software Call, initiating the SoFAIR project (Making Software FAIR). This international initiative aims to bolster the discoverability and reusability of open research software, addressing critical challenges related to the attribution, accessibility, and reuse of these vital components in scientific studies.
Open research software and data play a crucial role in scientific innovation and transparency. However, these assets often lack proper citation and remain embedded within research papers, hindering their visibility and usability. The SoFAIR project aims to rectify this issue by focusing on the FAIR principles—making research software Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.
SoFAIR is an international collaboration, bringing together key partners to develop a comprehensive solution. With a budget of €499k, the project is coordinated by The Open University and includes partners such as INRIA (France), Brno University of Technology (Czech Republic), the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN, Poland), and The European Molecular Biology Laboratory’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI, United Kingdom).
Key Components of the SoFAIR Project include: Machine Learning-Assisted Identification: Leveraging machine learning, SoFAIR will identify research software within scholarly manuscripts; Validation and Registration: Authors will validate the identified software, which will then be registered with persistent identifiers (PIDs), ensuring traceability and recognition; and Permanent Archival: The project aims for a permanent archival solution, emphasizing the longevity of research software.
SoFAIR aligns with the FAIR agenda and Horizon Europe initiatives on open research data and software. The project aims to integrate with European infrastructures such as EOSC, CLARIN, and DARIAH, promoting robust connectivity across the research landscape.
In essence, the SoFAIR project represents a step toward revolutionizing the discovery, accessibility, and referencing of research software. By incentivizing the creation of innovative research software, SoFAIR contributes to the collective progress of the broader scientific community.
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