Policies of the major countries of the world concerning implementation of integrated science and technology information

1. Policies of the major countries of the world concerning implementation of integrated science and technology information networks International Workshop on the Integration of Science & Technology Information, Seoul, Korea, 30 March 2005 Eleanor G. Frierson, B.A., M.L.S. Deputy Director, National Agricultural Library (U.S.) Deputy Chair, CENDI - www.cendi.gov Co-Chair, Science.gov Alliance - www.science.gov

2. Topics for This Presentation • Korea’s goals • Comprehensive scientific and technological information system available any time, any place, for many audiences – Selected issues • What are major countries saying about integrated national science and technology information networks? • What are major countries doing about integrated national science and technology information networks? – Science portal points for comparison • Selected examples of national science portals of major countries • Conclusions and suggestions Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005

3. Korea’s Goals“KISTEP is pushing ahead with Information Strategy Planning (ISP) under the supervision of the Office of Science and Technology Innovation, MOST (Ministry of Science and Technology) with a view to promoting the implementation of a comprehensive information system that will enable not only the industry, academics, researchers and government, but also the general public to easily utilize science and technology information regardless of time and place. Its fundamental purpose is to promote not only economic development, but also innovations in every sector of the society by enhancing R&D productivity and implementing a new innovation system through systematic creation, diffusion, utilization and sharing of innovation-related knowledge and information, thereby bringing about systematic changes to the whole country.” Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005

4. Korea’s Goals • Comprehensive information system available any time, any place, for many audiences • Promote economic development and innovation by implementing a new innovation system • Bring about systematic change to the whole country Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005

5. Comprehensive scientific and technological information system available any time, any place, for many audiences – Selected issues • What is meant by “comprehensive and integrated”? • National Authority: what policies, who sets? • Audiences: what are their information needs? • Technologies: primarily Web-based, other? • Content: what to include – government-only, proprietary information that must be licensed? • Content: directories, data and databases of many kinds, Web sites, other? • Content: what to do about non-Web content? • Content: what and how to integrate? • Languages: which languages, how to use? Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005

6. Comprehensive scientific and technological information system available any time, any place, for many audiences – Selected issues • “On Web” services: search, browse, personalized tools, support for communities of practice, data and publication creation/ dissemination? • “Off Web” services: help, publications, training, other? • Funding: who pays? • Participation: who needs to be involved, in what roles? • Momentum: how to gain and keep commitment? • Evaluation: how to know if it meets the goals Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005

7. What are major countries saying about integrated national science and technology information networks? • There are many discussions of national ICT networks, cyberinfrastructure, GRIDs, eScience, etc. (US, UK, Japan, Germany, Singapore, etc.) • Often there isn’t much discussion of science and technology-related information content along with the discussions of ICT and cyberinfrastructure • Information content is not a free good, will not appear magically free of charge as part of information systems and networks, must be funded and managed as appropriately as ICT/cyberinfrastructure • Appropriate information content + appropriate ICT/cyberinfrastructure = effective information system Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005

8. What are major countries doing about integrated national science and technology information networks? – Science portalpoints for comparison • National authority • Audiences • Technologies • Content • Languages • “On Web” services • “Off Web” services • Funding • Participation • Momentum • Evaluation Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005

9. Selected Examples of National Science Portals of Major Countries • Australia • Canada • France • Japan • Germany • United States Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005

10. Australia • System(s): www.science.gov.au • National Authority: Federal • Audiences: Industry, investors, research • Technologies: Web site search • Content: Explanatory texts, links to government Web sites and databases, newsletters, press releases • Languages: English • “On Web” services: Browse, search • “Off Web” services: Not obvious • Funding: Federal • Participation: Government agencies • Momentum: Responsible Federal agency • Evaluation: Not obvious Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005

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12. Canada • System(s): www.science.gc.ca, cisti-icist.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/cisti_e.html • National Authority: Federal • Audiences: “Canadians”, scientific community • Technologies: Web site search, database searching • Content: Explanatory text, links to Web sites, databases, CISTI catalogue • Languages: English, French • “On Web” services: Links, news, search, order documents (CISTI) • “Off Web” services: Information upon request service • Funding: Federal, CISTI charges for some services • Participation: Federal agencies • Momentum: Responsible Federal agencies • Evaluation: Survey linked to www.science.gc.ca site Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005

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15. France • System(s): www.science.gouv.fr • National Authority: Federal • Audiences: General • Technologies: search • Content: French language free of charge, validated online resources suitable for the general public. Most resources come from French research agencies and establishments • Languages: • “On Web” services: Search, browse by categories • “Off Web” services: Not obvious • Funding: Federal • Participation: Encouragement from Ministry of Research; French research agencies and establishments • Momentum: Participatory organizations; editorial committee • Evaluation: Not obvious Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005

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17. Germany • System(s): www.vascoda.de • National Authority: Federal (Ministry of Education and Research) • Audiences: research and education appear primary • Technologies: Surface and Deep Web searching • Content: more than 20 virtual libraries and 4 scientific information networks, plus “for fee” access to electronic journals. • Languages: German, English • “On Web” services: Integrated searching, browsing • “Off Web” services: Not obvious • Funding: Federal plus “for fee” services • Participation: Funding from Ministry of Education and Research; more than 40 institutions with almost 30 different individual services are integrated within Vascoda. • Momentum: Funding by Ministry of Education and Research • Evaluation: Partner institution Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005

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19. Japan • System(s): www.jst.go.jp/EN/ • National Authority: Federal • Audiences: Researchers and other users • Technologies: search, database links • Content: text, links to databases • Languages: Japanese, English • “On Web” services: Site search • “Off Web” services: Document delivery, translation • Funding: Federal, charging for services • Participation: Federal • Momentum: Federal mission • Evaluation: Not obvious from site Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005

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21. United States • System(s): www.science.gov • National Authority: “FirstGov for Science” • Audiences: “science-attentive citizens” • Technologies: Surface and “Deep Web” search • Content: U.S. Federal government Web sites and databases • Languages: English • “On Web” services: Integrated search, browse, “alerts” • “Off Web” services: response to “contact us” emails • Funding: voluntary contributions by participating agencies • Participation: 17 organizations in 12 agencies • Momentum: Science.gov Alliance structure, CENDI association • Evaluation: TBD Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005

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23. Conclusions and Suggestions • Vascoda appears to be the only existing national service aiming to integrate all relevant content, including proprietary content • Science.gov offers unique integrated Web site and “Deep Web” search functionality • Other sites are currently primarily lists of links with some text, some contain only government-produced information • Korea appears to be among a small group of nations working on integrating scientific and technical information • Korea may wish to establish consultative and collaborative relationships with other countries with similar goals and/or interesting systems Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005