Next chapter for RoRI
Monday 20 June 2022
Research on Research Institute (RoRI) to continue the mission to improve how research is done
Digital Science, a technology company serving stakeholders across the research ecosystem, is continuing its support as a core partner of the Research on Research Institute (RoRI), in its mission to improve the quality and impact of research worldwide.
Established in 2019 with Digital Science among its founding partners, today (20 June) in Bern, Switzerland, RoRI has announced the next phase of its development, with an increased number of core partners.
Originally launched in September 2019 as an international consortium of research funders, academic institutions, and technologists working to champion the latest approaches to ‘research on research’, RoRI was co-founded by the Wellcome Trust, the University of Sheffield, Leiden University, and Digital Science.
Following the first successful three years of the institute, the consortium is delighted to welcome an expanded group of Core Partners, who will collectively steer and oversee RoRI’s work over the next five years. Subject to final agreements1, the following organisations have signalled their intention to become Core Partners in Phase 2: Novo Nordisk Foundation; Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF); Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); Fonds National de la Recherche (FNR – Luxembourg National Research Fund); Michael Smith Health Research BC; Digital Science; Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS), Leiden University; and the University of Sheffield. Other partners will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
In addition to seeing new organizations join the initiative, Digital Science is also proud to support the next five-year phase of the institute’s activities.
RoRI’s second phase will see it undertake an expanded portfolio of projects, with more partners and research collaborators around the world. Its approach will continue to be characterised by:
- an independent, partnership-based, non-profit, mission-driven model; working at sufficient scale to engage with research in diverse countries and contexts;
- drawing on a rich blend of disciplinary perspectives, concepts, tools and methods;
- partnering in a genuinely collaborative, co-productive way;
- ensuring a supportive environment for risk-taking and collaboration;
- maintaining a commitment to open infrastructures, open data and open access.
The second phase has been launched today with co-hosts the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) in Bern.
“As a company that is dedicated to improving all aspects of the research ecosystem, Digital Science has been proud to be a founding member of RoRI.”
Daniel Hook, RoRI Co-Chair and Digital Science CEO
Commenting on the launch of phase two, RoRI Director and Digital Science Professor of Research Policy, Professor James Wilsdon of the University of Sheffield, said: “RoRI aims to unlock more of the potential of the US$2 trillion that is invested globally in R&D every year. Since 2019, the partnerships that we’ve built, and the progress we’ve made, reinforces the need for collaborative platforms like RoRI to support and amplify efforts to make research cultures more dynamic, agile, diverse and inclusive. We’re excited to get underway with this next phase of work, and grateful to all our partners and collaborators for their continued support.”
Looking forward to the next phase, RoRI Co-Chair and Digital Science CEO Daniel Hook said: “In just a few short years, the Research on Research Institute has become well regarded for its mission to improve global research capabilities, and its expertise. As a company that is dedicated to improving all aspects of the research ecosystem, Digital Science has been proud to be a founding member of RoRI – its mission firmly aligns with ours, and we’re excited to be continuing our key role in supporting the institute through the next five years of its journey.”
Matthias Egger, President of the National Research Council, SNSF, said: “The Research on Research Institute (RoRI) has helped the SNSF to guide its analyses and studies to develop best practices in research evaluation and funding. We are looking forward to continuing the collaboration with RoRI in the second phase.”
Sarah de Rijcke, Scientific Director of CWTS and Co-Chair of RoRI, said: “At CWTS, we have a strong reputation in doing research on research. RoRI’s transformative mission aligns very well with our own commitment to help improve the research system and its connections with society. Our team will therefore happily continue to support this hugely important endeavour. We know from experience that affecting change at the systems level is hard. It not only requires rigour, resources, and trust, but also patience, care, and a willingness to collaborate and learn. With RoRI, we are building a unique and growing network of researchers, research funders, scholarly communication and infrastructure providers. Because of the network’s scope and broader relevance, it is a highly rewarding position to be in. I look forward to the years to come.”
Working papers and further information about RoRI is available at: www.researchonresearch.org
1 Potential Core Partners are now in the advanced stages of finalising the legal, governance and funding arrangements for RoRI’s second phase.
About RoRI
RoRI is an international consortium of research funders, academic institutions and technologists working to champion transformative & translational research on research. By analysing research systems and experimenting with new tools, indicators and evaluation frameworks, we aim to advance more strategic, open, diverse and inclusive research. Visit our website Research on Research and follow @RoRInstitute on Twitter.
About Digital Science
Digital Science is a technology company working to make research more efficient. We invest in, nurture and support innovative businesses and technologies that make all parts of the research process more open and effective. Our portfolio includes admired brands Altmetric, Dimensions, Figshare, ReadCube, Symplectic, IFI CLAIMS, Overleaf, Ripeta and Writefull. We believe that together, we can help researchers make a difference. Visit www.digital-science.com and follow @digitalsci on Twitter.
About The University of Sheffield
With almost 29,000 of the brightest students from over 140 countries, learning alongside over 1,200 of the best academics from across the globe, the University of Sheffield is one of the world’s leading universities. A member of the UK’s prestigious Russell Group of leading research-led institutions, Sheffield offers world-class teaching and research excellence across a wide range of disciplines. Unified by the power of discovery and understanding, staff and students at the university are committed to finding new ways to transform the world we live in.
About CWTS, Leiden University
CWTS is an institute that studies scientific research and its connections to technology, innovation, and society. As a leading research, consulting, and training centre, CWTS is dedicated to increasing our understanding of scientific quality, societal impact, and other related concepts. Its research, scientometric tools, and evaluation expertise provide a solid basis for supporting research assessment and strategic decision making and for developing science policy.
Media contacts
Simon Linacre, Head of Content, Brand and Press, Digital Science: +44 (0)7484 381477, s.linacre@digital-science.com
