Ottawa, ON (April 1, 2021) -- The Portage Network and the New Digital Research Infrastructure Organization (NDRIO) are pleased to announce that as of April 1, 2021, Portage operations, including its national secretariat, are fully integrated into NDRIO.
As a fully integrated part of NDRIO, Portage will continue to support research data management (RDM) nationally through stewardship platforms, services, tools, outreach, and training that have been established through the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL), Canadian research libraries, and other stakeholders. This integration builds on an agreement between CARL and NDRIO to support Portage and RDM in Canada, as well as on previous funding from CANARIE to CARL Portage and its partners to strengthen the RDM ecosystem in Canada.
NDRIO and Portage are grateful to CARL for its exceptional leadership, strategic action, dedication and support in developing the Portage Network to contribute to the shared stewardship of research data and address specific gaps in national RDM infrastructure in Canada, and to CANARIE for their support in strengthening RDM in Canada. Initiated by CARL as a library-based network in 2015, Portage has grown to over 140 experts from 60 institutions across Canada. Portage collaborates with a broad range of stakeholders and partners nationally and internationally to build capacity and develop services and infrastructure so that all academic researchers in Canada have access to the support they need for RDM.
NDRIO is a key initiative of the national $572.5-million Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) strategy, initiated by the Government of Canada through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), to ensure that Canadian researchers have the digital tools they need to support scientific excellence. Through the DRI Strategy, ISED will provide up to $375 million over five years to NDRIO to coordinate and fund national DRI activities related to advanced research computing (ARC), RDM and research software (RS) within the DRI ecosystem, working collaboratively with all stakeholders across the country. NDRIO is providing the digital tools, support, services and infrastructure that scholars and scientists need to conduct leading-edge research that enables Canada to compete on the world stage.
“Research data management is a critical pillar to Canada’s national Digital Research Infrastructure strategy and to every researcher in this country,” says Nizar Ladak, CEO, NDRIO. “I welcome the Portage team to NDRIO. Together, we look forward to continuing to advance RDM nationally and internationally, and further harmonizing RDM activities with other parts of the DRI ecosystem to the benefit of all researchers,” adds Ladak.
Jeff Moon, Portage Director, says: “Building on the foundational work of CARL, Canadian research libraries, and other stakeholders and partners, the Portage Network looks forward to working within NDRIO to advance RDM best practices and to continue developing services, infrastructure, tools, and training in support of RDM and Canadian researchers.”
The Portage Network will continue to operate as a distributed model, with team members located across Canada.
About NDRIO: The New Digital Research Infrastructure Organization (NDRIO) is a Canadian not-for-profit organization that supports a researcher-focused, accountable, agile, strategic and sustainable Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) ecosystem. Established in 2019, NDRIO works with partners and stakeholders across Canada to give scholars and scientists the digital tools, support, services and infrastructure they need to conduct leading-edge research that benefits society and competes globally. NDRIO is funded by the Government of Canada through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada via the Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) Strategy. NDRIO’s membership is composed of more than 140 of Canada’s top universities, colleges, research hospitals and institutes, and other leading organizations in the DRI space. Visit engagedri.ca
About Portage: Portage was launched by the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) in 2015 to contribute to the shared stewardship of research data and to address specific gaps in national research data management (RDM) infrastructure in Canada. Initiated as a library-based network, Portage now collaborates with a broad range of stakeholders and partners locally, nationally, and internationally to build capacity and to develop services and infrastructure. Over 140 experts from 60 institutions across Canada actively participate in Portage committees and infrastructure projects, with coordination provided by a national secretariat. Funding in support of the Portage Network’s stewardship of research data within Canada is administered through the New Digital Research Infrastructure Organization (NDRIO).
Media Contacts:
Lesley Dickson
Communications Advisor, NDRIO
lesley.dickson@engagedri.ca
Jeff Moon
Director, Portage Network
jeff.moon@engagedri.ca