In the interest of science: The Digital Information Priority Initiative by the Alliance Partner Organisations*

Abstract

The Digital Information Priority Initiative by the Alliance Organisations is a remarkable joint initiative by all German Science Organisations in the domain of digital information. It has already started to produce significant results and is most likely to enhance and transform the information infrastructure in a significant and sustainable manner at least in this country. But rather than presenting the operative details of the initiative, this article reflects on the reasons and motivations that prompted science organisations to take such an active role in addressing the topic of information infrastructure. To make it clear from the outset: the notion of “science” is not used in the narrower sense of denoting only the natural sciences but in the broader sense of including the social sciences and humanities as well. To bear this in mind will help to avoid misunderstandings and undue reductions. The Digital Information Priority Initiative by the Alliance Organisations started in the summer of 2008, when the Digital Information Priority Initiative was adopted by all institutions that are represented in the so-called Alliance of German Science Organisations: Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation, Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina, German Research Foundation, German Academic Exchange Service, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, German Rector’s Conference, Max Planck Society, Leibniz Association and German Research Council. The Alliance Organisations agreed upon six priority areas: National licensing, Open access, National hosting strategy or better: a national strategy for safeguarding permanent and sustainable access to digital material, Primary research data, Virtual research environments and Legal frameworks. So far the basic information. But what has prompted science organisations to take such an active role in addressing the topic of information infrastructure? As a result of the digital revolution, which has swept over the science generation of the late second and early third millennium, the significance of information infrastructure has changed considerably. Information infrastructure is no longer a background service that, as a researcher, one only took notice of when it failed to function – as was the case for years or even decades – for example, if the journal or the book that one needed was not available at the library, if one did not understand the library catalogue system, or if it took weeks before an item loaned from another library finally arrived. In fact, in the two preceding decades, we have, through the digitisation of scientific research, experienced how the provision of information has changed as well. It has transformed from a background