Today DataCite and the ICSU World Data System (ICSU-WDS) announce an agreement to strengthen their collaboration and enhance the availability of high-quality scientific data to researchers worldwide. To accomplish this, the two principal membership organizations will cooperate more closely through joint working groups leading to results that will benefit their communities. They will also enhance strategic exchange and communication among their Members. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the organizations clearly states their intention to coordinate efforts in areas of mutual interest, such as data publishing and improving discoverability of trusted data services that support scientific research activities.
‘We are pleased to be able to formalize our long-standing relationship with the World Data System and its Members through this agreement’, said Dr Adam Farquhar, President of DataCite. ‘These two organizations share a commitment to make well-managed, high-quality research data findable, accessible, cited, and used’.
Prof Jean-Bernard Minster, Chair of the WDS Scientific Committee, indicated that ‘many WDS Members already work with DataCite to assign persistent identifiers that help to encourage citation and deeper integration of data into the scientific record. This agreement furthers our mission to promote universal and equitable access to, and long-term stewardship of, quality-assured scientific data and data services, products, and information’.
Under the conditions of the MoU, DataCite becomes a Partner Member of ICSU-WDS and contributes to WDS working groups and official meetings. Likewise, ICSU-WDS participates in DataCite working groups and annual meetings, in addition to encouraging data citation within its membership as an important element of scientific research.