Changing Data Policies in China: Implications for Enabling FAIR Data

Abstract

As fundamental resources of research activities, data is vitally important for scientific progress and general social society. Thus, open data practices are becoming more prevalent and the adoption of the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles is fostering open access data from four general perspectives. This paper firstly analyzes the general benefits and necessities of open data and the FAIR principles. Then, data policies in China are described from four views. Subsequently, challenges and opportunities for data usability across disciplinary boundaries and levels of expertise are described. Finally, categories are presented for how data policies in China enable FAIR data in terms of the four views of Chinese data policies. Above all, FAIR data is a good beginning, and for FAIR open data, we still need more efforts on intrinsic data culture, trustworthiness, sustainability, and multilateral cooperation among various stakeholders, as well as consistent and effective approaches for adopting data policies.