Accelerating the adoption of open infrastructure worldwide is one of the main objectives of Invest in Open Infrastructure (IOI). In the last two years, we have intentionally taken steps to develop a deep understanding of the costs, opportunities, challenges and trends in funding for open infrastructure globally to ensure we take a data-driven approach to advancing open science and more equitable access to knowledge for all.

We believe that our ambitious goals can only be achieved through close collaboration with networks around the world. We recognise the power of networks, the connections and experience that they have built up over the years and the deep work and understanding that they've developed about the needs of the communities they serve.

Why work with networks?

Networks such as library consortia, National and Regional Research and Education Networks (NRENs, RRENs), and other community-based networks serving researchers have long played a role in providing services and collective benefits to the research ecosystem. From library consortia who began as means of sharing costs for content, to NRENs who began as supports to deliver critical access to connectivity, we see tremendous promise in working with those who have established relationships serving an array of research and learning institutions, often across national borders. We believe that working with networks can yield advantages that will help us hasten the awareness and subsequent utility of open infrastructure worldwide. Some of these benefits are outlined below:

• Working with networks serves as a multiplier factor, leveraging the existing infrastructure and influence of networks to multiply the impact of funding and mitigating risk by coordinating action over many institutions.
• Working with networks facilitates a participatory funding process that allows us to be responsive to the needs of the communities served by networks. Aligning with pressing needs is a crucial condition for uptake and sustainability of open infrastructure.
• Increased adoption on a network scale increases the sustainability of the open infrastructure ecosystem by driving increased use, awareness, and contributions (technically, financially, and socially) to open infrastructure services and providers.
• Collaboration with networks also aligns with our ethos of always being community centered in our push to drive adoption of open infrastructure worldwide. Networks by virtue of their representative nature, provide a key mechanism of being attuned to the needs of the wider community.
• Focusing on networks for our IOI Fund launching in 2024 introduces a new approach in the open infrastructure funding space and complements the funding aims of other open infrastructure funding and advocacy organisations focused on directly funding services and providers.
• Developing synergies with networks also strengthens the infrastructure of the participating networks and pilots new models for coordinated adoption and investment in open infrastructure, with potential impacts beyond the timeline of the fund
• Collaboration with networks can provide qualitative and quantitative evidence on the needs and challenges of open infrastructure adoption for networks and institutions across diverse geographies, which can be used to create guidance for other networks and funders.
  

We have kicked off a targeted network engagement process that will help us understand opportunities to catalyse the adoption of open infrastructure worldwide.

In this phase of our network engagement strategy, IOI will prioritise networks:

• With a strong existing service relationship with their members, including a history of providing shared services to further open access to research and open research infrastructures.
• Whose members participate actively in the governance and decision-making of the network.
• With a demonstrated commitment to open science and open research infrastructure, including efforts to expand the adoption of open and/or non-commercial research infrastructure solutions for network members.
• Whose success in furthering the adoption of open infrastructure through this partnership may catalyse additional funding or provide new models for open infrastructure adoption for other networks.
• Who allow for a deeper understanding of regional contexts, and ensure the inclusion of networks from regions historically under-resourced in open infrastructure development. Working across multiple regions is intended to facilitate collaboration and exchange of learnings across geographic and cultural contexts, enabling a more global understanding of the challenges in adopting open infrastructure.

Why work with IOI?

Our mission is to help institutions and funders better invest in the open technology and systems that research and scholarship rely on. Over the past years, we have been building a broad understanding of investment trends and needs in open infrastructure globally, and developing deep relationships with various stakeholders in the fields. We work to provide targeted, evidence-based guidance and support to institutions and funders of open infrastructure. By working with us, you’re contributing to honing and refining the guidance, research, and networks we’re developing to improve investment in and adoption of open infrastructure globally.

If you would like to chat with us further to discuss opportunities for collaboration at a network level, please fill in the form below, and we will get back to you promptly.