New Report: “Investigating the Link Between Research Data and Impact”

From the Australia Research Data Commons:

A study commissioned by the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) has identified clear public value delivered through research data, including life-saving treatments, more efficient business and government services, more effective environmental practices and improved educational outcomes. Findings from the research show that many of the positive benefits generated by research could only be developed with research data. The direct benefits of research data are most commonly used by professionals, government, policymakers, and industry. These benefits are in turn shared more widely in the form of improved public services, consumer products and healthcare, to name just a few of the many identified impacts.

This new study shows that research data alone is not sufficient to create positive impacts. Strong interventions such as analysis, curation and product development are required to leverage the broader value of data for business, government, professional services and direct use by the public. These value enhancement activities bridge the gap between research data – which might otherwise go unused – and the diverse range of potential benefits for the society and economy that those data can deliver.

Direct to Summary Blog Post

Direct to Full Text Report & Data: Investigating the Link Between Research Data and Impact (via Zenodo)
21 pages; PDF.

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