R&D Statistics Information System: An Interoperability Tail Between CERIF and SDMX

Abstract

Research and Development statistics (R&D statistics) provide valuable information on the expenditure spent and personnel engaged in R&D activities in a country, knowledge that facilitates the understanding on how R&D output contributes to economic growth and societal wellbeing. This endeavor requires a sound evidence base which is succeeded through internationally comparable statistics and a common survey methodology and conduct per country as part of its national official statistical program. For this purpose the National Documentation Centre of Greece (NDC or EKT using the Greek abbreviation), the designated organization for the collection and compilation of the Greek R&D statistics, build the R&D Information System to automate and support this specific business activity. This paper aims to provide an overview of the implemented R&D Information System but especially to focus on the adoption of CERIF and SDMX standards and their integration. CERIF was selected as the systems’ data model for its metadata representation capability and its high flexibility in forming semantic relationships while SDMX was adopted as the statistical data and metadata exchange standard. The integration of the two standards and their interoperability enables data and metadata quality maintenance, archiving and access while at the same time ensures valid and automated interchange of statistical information with national and international statistical offices.