Research Data Repositories in Ibero-America

Abstract

Open data, a component of open science, is based on a set of principles aimed at increasing access, reproducibility and management of data generated mainly by publicly funded research at academic institutions and research centres. Open data is in its implementation phase around the world, mainly because it requires a shift from institutional repositories of open access publications, to data repositories with the required functionalities to collect, store and share all types of research outputs that do not fit into a standard institutional repository - including datasets supporting the publication of journal articles - in a findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR) way. The aim of this paper is to look at the development of data repositories in Ibero-America by analysing a set of defined parameters. The study methodology is based on a bibliographic review to analyse the types of research data infrastructures utilised in Ibero-America to date, based on an exploratory study carried out on a sample of 22 countries in the region. This is carried out by checking the official website portals of research institutions, universities and libraries in each country, as well as the Registry of Research Data Repositories, the Dataverse Project, and Figshare, to identify and analyse data repositories implemented in Ibero-America based on eight parameters. The paper is structured in three parts; first, we present the Open Science principles and the general concepts, such as types of repositories, data repositories, etc; second, we describe the methodology and present the sample exploratory study on the development of data repositories in Ibero-America, and; third, we present the study findings and a set of best practices for the development of data repositories. The general conclusion is that the transition to open data, measured by the development and implementation of repositories for research data in Ibero-America, highlights the need to further understand the role of data repositories in order to increase the reproducibility of research data and results, whether to support publication and, or the entire research process