Managing the life cycle of a portfolio of Open Data Resources

Résumé

Data resources are essential for the long-term preservation of scientific data and the reproducibility of science. The SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics provides the life science community with a stable and reliable data infrastructure. The Institute provides a portfolio of high-quality databases and software platforms, which vary from expert curated knowledgebases such as UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot (part of the UniProt consortium), neXtProt, STRING and Bgee, to online tools such as SWISS-MODEL and SwissDrugDesign. SIB aims to ensure that these SIB Resources are available on the long term, i.e. as long as their scientific return-on-investment and impact are high. SIB's vision is that data and research results should be freely accessible to all. For this reason, the Institute promotes the adoption of open licenses. This paper describes the processes that support the identification, evaluation, and development of SIB Resources. For over ten years, SIB employs a set of indicators that reflect the multiple facets and complexity of data resources. These indicators set quality standards, and monitor usage trends and scientific impact. They guide and inform both the SIB Scientific Advisory Board in its evaluation, and the managers of the databases and tools in the development of their respective resources towards scientific excellence and Open Science. Through a professional management framework with central services such as user-centric design and a license advisory committee, SIB supports the promotion of excellence in resource development and operation.