Russell Group signs Sorbonne Declaration on research data rights

28 January 2020

Russell Group Chief Executive Tim Bradshaw attended The International Research Data Rights Summit at Sorbonne University on yesterday, alongside nine other major networks of research-intensive universities from around the world, representing more than 160 institutions.

At the Summit the Russell Group signed the "Sorbonne Declaration" on open research data, which builds upon recent work in the UK and elsewhere - including the UK’s Open Research Data Task Force and the Concordat on Open Research Data - in enabling the flow of research data.

The declaration affirms universities' willingness to share data, which is crucial in addressing common and global challenges such as climate change and health. It recognises the need to ensure data is interoperable so that information from different sources and countries can be brought together in new and exciting ways, and that pursuing this vision will require appropriate, specific funding and clear legal frameworks to facilitate data sharing. 

The declaration and list of signatories can be found here.

The data summit was co-organised by Sorbonne University, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and University College London (UCL).

(Photo: VVK-LERU​)

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