The Swedish Research Council has granted the University of Gothenburg funding to continue supporting the Swedish National Data Service (SND) for another two years, 2027–2028. The decision ensures that SND can maintain its national efforts on open access to research data.
“We are very pleased that, together with the higher education institutions and other key partners, we can continue our important work to ensure open access to research data,” says Eva Stensköld, Director of SND.
Funding from a special call
Earlier this year, SND applied for funding through a special call, separate from the regular round of grants for other research infrastructures of national interest that the Swedish Research Council also recently decided on (Grant for research infrastructure of national interest). The awarded funding provides a strong basis for continuing the work to improve national coordination of Sweden’s e-infrastructure for research.
The work includes, among other things, the Swedish Research Council’s proposal on increased coordination and organizational change of e-infrastructure for research (Ökad samordning och organisatorisk förändring av e-infrastruktur för forskning).
In its assessment of SND’s application, the Swedish Research Council emphasized that SND is a well-functioning and well-structured research infrastructure that plays an increasingly important national role in advancing open access and FAIR research data. The review also highlighted several of SND’s strengths, in particular the SND Network, Researchdata.se, DORIS, and SND CARE, SND’s certified data repository.
Next steps
In mid-November, SND will hold an initial dialogue meeting with the Swedish Research Council to determine the final grant amount and clarify details related to organization, operations, budget, and follow-up.
“We have already begun discussions with our consortium and our host university, which co-finances SND’s operations, and we look forward to setting the framework for our activities in the next funding period,” says Eva Stensköld.