National data services for South African research ILIFU is the isiXhosa word for Cloud, an apt representation of the first data node funded by the Department of Science and Technology to support the National Integrated Cyberinfrastructure System of South Africa (NICIS). Dr Dale Peters Director: UCT eResearch University of Cape Town Subhead

National Integrated Cyber-Infrastructure System NICIS Generic Terms of Reference Integrate different components in a sustainable system: CHPC – SANReN – DIRISA

ilifu Strategic direction Open Science policy framework White Paper Open Science policy framework National Big Data Strategy Dale: Draft White Papers on Science, Technology and Innovation Open Science Data should be open, shareable – but not at the expense of African researchers and communities Regional consortium leading national data infrastructure community National Big Data Strategy ilifu

Open Science Agenda Mandate Open Science policies Balance Open Science and IP Curate confidential information Evaluation metrics and career pathways for data scientists Training in RI management Long term funding SA-EU Open Science Framework for policy development - and equitable North-South collaboration In the African context open data means not only sharing and reuse: it also requires inclusion. This means that the benefits of gathering and sharing data should accrue to all, from institutions to individual researchers and entire communities. - Creation of national body which assumes responsibility for new policy, advocacy and monitoring - Mandate Open Science policies for all researchers and ensure robust e-governance to support public confidence Propose updated ground rules for the balance between Open Science and Intellectual protection Determine policies and practice for curating confidential information Establish metrics and career pathways that encourage OS, international collaboration and the place of data scientists Develop training programme for Research Infrastructure management Ensure ongoing funding for research data infrastructures, technical support infrastructures and determine responsibilities for long term curation

Draft White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation Drivers of global change National system of innovation Increased human capital Sustained financing for science, technology and innovation Policy intent to increase human capital and to ensure an open, responsive and diverse knowledge system CHAPTER 5: INCREASED HUMAN CAPITAL AND EXPANDED KNOWLEDGE ENTERPRISE 5.1 Progress, gaps and approaches to expanding capabilities 5.2 Policy intent: Expanding research outputs and transforming the research institutional landscape 5.3 Policy intent: Transform the profile of the researcher base 5.4 Policy intent: Improve the research system’s output of human resources 5.5 Policy intent: Strengthen skills in the economy 5.6 Policy intent: Ensure an open, responsive and diverse knowledge system 5.7 Policy intent: Support a science-literate and science-aware society 5.8 Policy intent: Upgrade and expand research infrastructure 5.9 Policy intent: Expand internationalisation and science diplomacy

National Big Data Strategy Human Capital Development – the next generation Cyberinfrastructure - sustainability R&D ecosystem – government, academia, private sector Data governance - sharing, reuse, and ethical use of big data Coordination of investments and initiatives Strategy gives shape to policy intentions

ilifu Research ecosystem Financial constraints on the higher education sector highlighted the need to act collaboratively – towards more co-ordinated infrastructure development An early milestone of the ILIFU project has been the development of a national brokerage model to engage with the figshare platform – and other cloud-based services. Consortium partners and other South African research institutions are able to focus on the service development required to support researchers. ilifu

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