Periodic Reporting for period 2 - RISIS 2 (European Research Infrastructure for Science, technology and Innovation policy Studies 2)
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-07-01 bis 2021-12-31
RISIS2 aims at building a data and services infrastructure supporting the development of a new generation of analyses and indicators. To develop a deeper understanding of knowledge dynamics and policy relevant evidence, the project focuses on positioning indicators, which take into account critical features of knowledge dynamics i.e. the importance of asymmetries in producers, in places and in themes.
RISIS2 offers access to 12 datasets that are maintained and enriched on 5 topics: firm innovation capabilities, public sector research, R&I outputs and projects, policy learning and PhD careers. 4 new datasets will be developed during RISIS2 to complement these themes. Researchers access them through transnational access after having been selected on the basis of their projects. A critical aspect is the developments of an e-infrastructure that will systematise distant transnational access (RISIS Core facility)
RISIS2 supports researchers through important training activities and specific support for the mobilization of advanced quantitative methods.
An important choice of RISIS2 is to combine this micro data access with one one hand a set of services that enable data harmonisation and enrichment, and NLP and semantic treatment analysis; and on the other access to ready-made positioning indicators (starting with the KNOWMAK tool).
RISIS2 offers access to 12 datasets that are maintained and enriched on 5 topics: firm innovation capabilities, public sector research, R&I outputs and projects, policy learning and PhD careers. 4 new datasets will be developed during RISIS2 to complement these themes. Researchers access them through transnational access after having been selected on the basis of their projects. A critical aspect is the developments of an e-infrastructure that will systematise distant transnational access (RISIS Core facility)
RISIS2 supports researchers through important training activities and specific support for the mobilization of advanced quantitative methods.
An important choice of RISIS2 is to combine this micro data access with one one hand a set of services that enable data harmonisation and enrichment, and NLP and semantic treatment analysis; and on the other access to ready-made positioning indicators (starting with the KNOWMAK tool).
During the first 18 months 4 main activities were developed:
- First the maintenance and deepening of existing datasets: all have progressed as expected and new versions of most datasets are now accessible. The new datasets are progressing also as expected and 2 of them will witness a beta opening by the end of 2020. A new access portal has been designed for researchers, and we have received over 100 requests for use, which is well in line with our most optimistic scenario.
- Second we are above our expected objectives in the deployment of the new services, in particular with geoservices, dataset annotation, and our actor reference databases (in particular ORGREG); and the VRE based on D4 Science has been opened. But this is on an autonomous mode. Their integrated access depends on the development and deployment of the RISIS Core Facility. While all elements progress as planned (including some breakthorugh aspects such as the orchestrator and the RISIS scenario modelling language), their integration into a unique platform, RCF, has been delayed by COVID-19 as it requires in-depth coordination of 6 teams and is delayed for 6 months, with a beta opening at the beginning of 2021.
- Third, our strategy toward open science has been strongly reinforced by our links with OpenAire and the very important use of the RISIS Zenodo repository.
- Finally, we also have strongly reinforced our interactions with researchers with the new monthly online research seminar and our relations with policymakers with our policy sessions (backed by policy-briefs): 5 have been done until now.
- First the maintenance and deepening of existing datasets: all have progressed as expected and new versions of most datasets are now accessible. The new datasets are progressing also as expected and 2 of them will witness a beta opening by the end of 2020. A new access portal has been designed for researchers, and we have received over 100 requests for use, which is well in line with our most optimistic scenario.
- Second we are above our expected objectives in the deployment of the new services, in particular with geoservices, dataset annotation, and our actor reference databases (in particular ORGREG); and the VRE based on D4 Science has been opened. But this is on an autonomous mode. Their integrated access depends on the development and deployment of the RISIS Core Facility. While all elements progress as planned (including some breakthorugh aspects such as the orchestrator and the RISIS scenario modelling language), their integration into a unique platform, RCF, has been delayed by COVID-19 as it requires in-depth coordination of 6 teams and is delayed for 6 months, with a beta opening at the beginning of 2021.
- Third, our strategy toward open science has been strongly reinforced by our links with OpenAire and the very important use of the RISIS Zenodo repository.
- Finally, we also have strongly reinforced our interactions with researchers with the new monthly online research seminar and our relations with policymakers with our policy sessions (backed by policy-briefs): 5 have been done until now.
- The first impact lies in the further integration and opening of the infrastructure for our field: The uses are well in line with our expectations and 2 key indicators of success are well above what was expected: 80% of access are distant and the share of projects mobilising multiple datasets is already 24% while our final objective is 33%.
- The second and third impacts deal with facilitating transnational access and widening the user base: Beyond the 2 above mentioned indicators of success, we progressed as expected in 2019 in term of training activities and awareness raising events in conferences. This has been stopped by the pandemic. It took some time to reorganise traning online, but this is going to start again from October 2020. Meanwhile we have made a really important effort in developing tutorials and use cases (and this is visible in the downloads from the website and even more from Zenodo). Also we have established a monthly scientific seminar online and the first session (September 2020) demonstrates that this will become an important feature of the widening of the user base.
- The fourth impact lies in the enlarging and strengthening of services offered to the community: The inclusion of the GATE platform for NLP tools has enriched the semantic services we offer through the CORTEXT platform. The CORTEX platform now includes all geo-services and has now developed a complete monitoring system that will be mobilised for the RCF, enabling a better knwoledge of usages to channel development efforts.
- The fifth impact is about fostering the innovation role of the infrastructure: Two developments beyond what was planned need to be mentioned here. First we have, with the support of the Commission, incorporated the KNOWMAK tool in order to provide stakeholders with positioning indicators on the European knwoledge bases of KETs and SDGs. This is already available and used even if still in a beta version, and a full new version will be available end of 2021. Second is the creation of quarterly policy meetings held in Brussels and that can be followed online, in which we present results of policy interest.
- The sixth impact is about the long-term sustainability of the infrastructure. The project was based on the idea to candidate to the ESFRI roadmap. This had to be done in 2019 and we concluded that though we were considered as of great pan-European interest, we were too small at the national level to rank as national large infrastructure. We are now exploring with our institutions other options in order to find a long-term solution for the coverage of the shared aspects of the facility. To prepare for it a memorandum of understanding has been signed by members and 5 specific aspects are being worked: the identity of the infrastructure (the RISIS trademark has been granted), a full review of the IP and GDPR issues of the infranstructure, the stabilisation of the ‘indirect contracting’ approach, the definition and costing of shared activities, and a review of the institutional options that could be mobilised.
- The second and third impacts deal with facilitating transnational access and widening the user base: Beyond the 2 above mentioned indicators of success, we progressed as expected in 2019 in term of training activities and awareness raising events in conferences. This has been stopped by the pandemic. It took some time to reorganise traning online, but this is going to start again from October 2020. Meanwhile we have made a really important effort in developing tutorials and use cases (and this is visible in the downloads from the website and even more from Zenodo). Also we have established a monthly scientific seminar online and the first session (September 2020) demonstrates that this will become an important feature of the widening of the user base.
- The fourth impact lies in the enlarging and strengthening of services offered to the community: The inclusion of the GATE platform for NLP tools has enriched the semantic services we offer through the CORTEXT platform. The CORTEX platform now includes all geo-services and has now developed a complete monitoring system that will be mobilised for the RCF, enabling a better knwoledge of usages to channel development efforts.
- The fifth impact is about fostering the innovation role of the infrastructure: Two developments beyond what was planned need to be mentioned here. First we have, with the support of the Commission, incorporated the KNOWMAK tool in order to provide stakeholders with positioning indicators on the European knwoledge bases of KETs and SDGs. This is already available and used even if still in a beta version, and a full new version will be available end of 2021. Second is the creation of quarterly policy meetings held in Brussels and that can be followed online, in which we present results of policy interest.
- The sixth impact is about the long-term sustainability of the infrastructure. The project was based on the idea to candidate to the ESFRI roadmap. This had to be done in 2019 and we concluded that though we were considered as of great pan-European interest, we were too small at the national level to rank as national large infrastructure. We are now exploring with our institutions other options in order to find a long-term solution for the coverage of the shared aspects of the facility. To prepare for it a memorandum of understanding has been signed by members and 5 specific aspects are being worked: the identity of the infrastructure (the RISIS trademark has been granted), a full review of the IP and GDPR issues of the infranstructure, the stabilisation of the ‘indirect contracting’ approach, the definition and costing of shared activities, and a review of the institutional options that could be mobilised.