The Research Data Alliance (RDA) and the Confederation of Open Access Repositories (COAR) are pleased to announce an agreement to work together to strengthen and expand capacities for research data management within the international data repository community.

COAR and RDA have a shared mission to improve access and use of research outputs, leading to better research and new discoveries. As part of this agreement, the organizations intend to coordinate more closely on strategic initiatives of shared interest, regularly exchange information about activities, and conduct joint webinars and events to support common aims.

According to Hilary Hanahoe, RDA Secretary General, “As a result of this agreement, we look forward to working with COAR and coordinating our activities in areas that will most strongly impact the data repository community and expand our international reach.“

Kathleen Shearer, COAR Executive Director says, “As the repository community works to ensure that all valuable research data are preserved, well managed and interoperable, and available for reuse (where appropriate), this collaboration with RDA will make certain that COAR is actively engaged and developing a strategic agenda that aligns with other important stakeholders.”

Founded in 2013 through funding from the National Science Foundation, the European Commission and the Australian government, RDA is a community-driven, interdisciplinary organization comprised of more than 8,400 members in 137 countries, whose mission is to develop the social and technical data infrastructure needed to drive innovation surrounding data sharing and data interoperability.

COAR is an international association with over 140 organizational members and partners from over 40 countries. COAR brings together the repository community and major repository networks in order to build capacity, define future functionalities, align policies and practices, and act as a global voice for the repository community.