These are the vision and principles that underpin our technical recommendations for Next Generation Repositories

Our vision

To position repositories as the foundation for a distributed, globally networked infrastructure for scholarly communication, on top of which layers of value added services will be deployed, thereby transforming the system, making it more research-centric, open to and supportive of innovation, while also collectively managed by the scholarly community. However, in order to leverage the value of the repository network, we need to equip it with a wider array of roles and functionalities, which can be enabled through new levels of web-centric interoperability.

Principles

Distribution of control – Distributed control, or governance, of scholarly resources (preprints, post-prints, research data, supporting software, etc.) and scholarly infrastructures is an important principle which underpins this work. Without this, a small number of actors can gain too much control and can establish a quasi-monopolistic position. Distributed networks are more sustainable and at less risk to buy-out or failure.

Inclusiveness and diversity – Different institutions and regions have unique and particular needs and contexts (e.g diverse language, policies and priorities). A distributed network of repositories will aim to reflect and be responsive to the different needs and contexts of different regions, disciplines and countries.

Public good – The technologies, architectures and protocols adopted in the context of the global network for repositories will be available to everyone, using global standards when that are available.

Intelligent openness and accessibility – Scholarly resources, will be made openly available and in accessible formats, whenever possible, in order increase their value and maximize their re-use for the benefit for scholarship and society.

Sustainability – Institutions and research organizations will be major participants in the global network, contributing to the long term sustainability of resources.

Interoperability – Repositories will adopt common behaviours, functionalities and standards ensuring interoperability across institutions and enabling them to engage in a common way with external service providers