1. 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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Thank you
For further information … ilifu.ac.za