Digital Data in Biodiversity Research Conference

The future of science requires expanded access to a rapidly growing corpus of data by a more diverse community of users. Access and use of these data depend on a suite of repository services that enable the data lifecycle to work more seamlessly with the research lifecycle. These services include curation, publication, search and discovery, harmonization, and analytics, as well as expertise and training that grows the capacity of the science community to participate in new science. Each of these data repository services is costly. The current model for funding repositories, including both operations and the future costs of maintaining a long-term archive, does not match repository needs or the needs of the scientific community. Here we discuss how EDI intends to approach sustainable funding issues. A portfolio of funding sources will be required to develop and deliver services to the scientific community at the size and breadth required by federal FAIR mandates. For research communities funded by federal agencies, both the scientists and the agencies need to recognize, account for, and build in a range of data services, including those provided by repositories, as part of the business model.