DIALOGUES partner IUE hosted a workshop as part of the EERAdata project, where Andrea (EI-JKU) participated as a discussant. The workshop was a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities related to FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and open data from the implementation of Horizon 2020 projects, with the aim of using the experiences to guide future European projects.

The workshop started with a round table discussion under the expert moderation of Prof. Dr. Mehmet Efe Biresselioğlu from IUE. Participants from different H2020 projects shared their unique perspectives on FAIR and open data, sparking insightful discussions on the value of data. Each speaker shared experiences from their projects, many of which involved complex qualitative interviews and large-scale surveys.

A recurring theme was the challenge of balancing open data with privacy concerns. A key point raised was the critical importance of anonymising data in these projects so that datasets can be safely used for statistical and qualitative analysis. Many participants noted that anonymising qualitative data is often a particularly difficult task.

The logistical challenges of managing and storing large amounts of data, such as audio files of interviews and their translations into English, were also discussed. The need to adopt FAIR principles and effective data management practices was agreed to be essential, both at the proposal stage and throughout the project lifecycle.

One point of contention was the issue of trust in data confidentiality. Many data holders prefer to keep their data private in order to maintain a competitive advantage, which is a significant barrier to data sharing. Despite this, there was a unanimous call for a shift in thinking towards greater trust and the democratisation of knowledge.

More information about the event > HERE