Initiative
About
The Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) is a Coalition of research funding organisations, research performing organisations, national/regional assessment authorities and agencies, as well as associations of the above organisations, learned societies and other relevant organisations. They have signed the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment, meaning that they commit to implement changes to research assessment, and mutually support and learn from each other as they progress in their reform journey.
Collaboration with CoARA is crucial for GraspOS as it aligns with CoARA's vision of recognizing diverse research outputs and practices while promoting sustainability and community governance in open infrastructure. By partnering with CoARA and the "Towards Open Infrastructure for Research Assessment (OI4RRA)" working group, GraspOS can enhance its research assessment approach, ensuring it is based on qualitative judgments and supported by responsible quantitative indicators. This collaboration supports the development of a sustainable, community-governed open infrastructure, which is foundational for GraspOS’s federated services. Together, we can promote open science practices, aid researchers, funders, and institutions in making informed decisions, and improve the overall quality and impact of research.
Mutual Benefits
Collaborating with CoARA benefits GraspOS by enhancing research assessment accuracy and fairness through CoARA's emphasis on qualitative judgments and responsible quantitative indicators. It helps develop a sustainable, community-governed open infrastructure which is essential for GraspOS’s federated services. The collaboration promotes Open Science practices, supports stakeholders in making informed decisions, and facilitates global collaboration and networking, driving innovation and impact. Additionally, GraspOS aligns with organizations willing to change research assessment practices, leveraging complementary activities to reach milestones beyond CoARA members.
GraspOS contributes to the collaboration with CoARA by providing tools, services, and data to support Open Science indicators, developing a federated infrastructure aligned with CoARA policies, and offering case studies to demonstrate best practices. GraspOS also supports institutions in translating policies into actionable steps, fosters global collaboration and networking, and contributes expertise on principles, governance, and sustainability of infrastructures. GraspOS members actively participate in CoARA working groups, fostering well-orchestrated deliverables and mutual benefits.
The main expected outcomes are as follows:
- Alignment with CoARA: Align GraspOS data, tools, and services with the policies and vision developed by CoARA and its OI4RRA working group.
- Showcase Pilot Approaches: Demonstrate the use of GraspOS tools and services to facilitate CoARA members in adopting new research assessment methods.
- Enhance Sustainability: Improve the sustainability of the GraspOS federated infrastructure.
- Embrace Community Values: Adopt CoARA community values and principles, particularly concerning Open Infrastructure for Research Assessment.
Website
Joint activities
A significant aspect of GraspOS activities involves ensuring that research assessment practices not only embrace Open Science principles but also fully adhere to best practices for responsible research assessment.
This alignment between Open Science and Responsible Research Assessment serves as a vital interface between EOSC and CoARA. Consequently, the pivotal role of the GraspOS project in bridging these two initiatives has been recognized early on, leading to the involvement of GraspOS representatives in relevant joint events from an early stage.
Working Groups
GraspOS representatives participate in CoARA Working Groups and are leading certain activities listed below.
- Representatives from OpenAIRE and CWTS are leading the Working Group “Towards Open Infrastructures for Responsible Research Assessment” (OI4RRA). The activities of the WG involve infrastructure stakeholders primarily throughout Europe, but also several participants from outside of Europe.
- Representatives from TSV are leading the Working Group on “Multilingualism and language biases in research assessment”.
Events
Participation in the CoARA WG Chairs Forum in Helsinki, 10-11 September 2024. Presented the CoARA WG Towards Open Infrastrutures for Responsible Research Assessment (OI4RRA); engaged in brainstorming related to optimization of WGs and potential for collaboration among WGs.
Participation in the joint CoARA and EOSC coordination online workshop, 10 April 2024. Presented the GraspOS project and engaged in discussion about research assessment reform.