On 02/04/14 18:21, Anna Clements wrote:
> Thanks, Rachel and for the summary - will read in detail but initial question is
> ...
> Is this report then evidence for the need for (inter)national & subject data
> centres to be developed where none exist .. and so maybe remove the need for
> institutions to do this themselves - duplicating costs and effort?
>
My opinion:
The answer is yes to the first part, and no to the second. Yes, it is evidence
that the existing data centres deliver value and hence can support the case for
more of them to exist. But even if funders take that up with enthusiasm, it will
take some years for it to happen and there will still be areas of research that
aren't covered. There will thus be a role for institutions for the foreseeable
future. These questions were examined in the UKRDS report back in 2010 and I
don't think the picture has changed substantially since then.
As John Milner said, the solutions may involve regional consortia and/or some
mix of commercial suppliers for some of the infrastructure, but intellectual
custody will still remain the responsibility of institutions themselves.
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