The CCSD updates its roadmap to better integrate the dynamics created by the National Open Science Plans and its successes in calls for projects, notably the Equipex+ HALiance.
The CCSD’s missions are fully in line with the drive for Open Science and, since its creation in 2000 by the CNRS, the CCSD has been a major player in open access, particularly through HAL. The French Digital Republic Act, the Jussieu Call (for Open science and bibliodiversity), the commitment displayed by the French government in terms of Open Science policy, the growing development of institutional policies as well as the European and international context, all provide a favourable environment for development of the CCSD’s activities and services, and create opportunities to assert its leadership on Open Science issues.
In this context, the Open Science Steering Committee validated the CCSD road map in 2019 with the goal of making HAL the repository of French higher education and research results, anchoring the national archive in the French and international ecosystem and consolidating its role in the development of Open Science. The strategic direction adopted aimed to improve and develop the services provided to researchers and institutions (overlay services). It was also intended to strengthen interoperability with other information systems internationally, and contribute to the creation of a coherent ecosystem combining publications, software and data. In addition to these technical aspects, the Open Science Steering Committee secured the overall development of the system by adopting a new funding model for HAL and a new governance model for the CCSD.
The 2020 and 2021 CCSD activity reports detail the actions taken and the initial results. Far from being set in stone, these actions are part of a fast-moving environment (the 2nd National Plan for Open Science, launch of the national data warehouse, for example) and are growing rapidly due to the CCSD’s success in responding to calls for proposals. Of particular note are the OpenAire Nexus1 and FNSO2 projects on EPIsciences and especially the launch in 2022 of the HALiance project on facilities of excellence for research.
The latter project has far-reaching consequences for the future of HAL: it aims for a major renewal of hardware infrastructure, technologies and services in a limited time while maintaining the archive’s current operations. These various developments and their impact on the CCSD’s activity have led us to update the road map. This document extends and structures the strategic direction taken in 2019, reiterates the CCSD’s framework for action, and incorporates the commitments to various projects, with HALiance at the top of the list.This updated road map is organised around three main strategic directions.
The CCSD should consolidate its role in the service of French public policies, in close collaboration with the scientific information infrastructure and research funding agencies. It must also strengthen its partnerships with the major players in Open Science in Europe and around the world, asserting its role and promoting its platforms. In particular, recognition will come through formalising its alignment with Open Science criteria of excellence.
The goal is also to increase usage of the three CCSD platforms. Improving the quality and relevance of the services provided to researchers and institutions is a fundamental driver. Emphasis is placed on simplifying existing procedures, adding new features, improving support for users, providing clear and transparent dissemination of information and promoting the contributions of the various user communities.
The third and final component concerns the capacity of the CCSD to sustain its activity over time. How can it maintain access to its services and platforms? This is an essential issue, given that most French higher education and research institutions use it. The answer is based on a combination of different factors: an efficient governance model, the expertise of the CCSD team members, a sustainable business model based on diversified sources of funding, and open and secured technological choices.
Each year, the CCSD will draw up an annual action plan and submit it to the governance bodies.
Read the document: CCSD road map 2022-2027