Infra Finder: Your Hub for Finding Infrastructure Services Enabling Open Research and Scholarship

• April 25, 2024

Exciting News from Invest in Open Infrastructure (IOI)!

We’re thrilled to introduce their newest resource: Infra Finder. This tool is your go-to guide for navigating the intricate world of infrastructure services and standards that support open research and scholarship.

Introducing Infra Finder: Unveiling 57 Infrastructure Services and Standards Infra Finder now boasts a comprehensive database featuring 57 infrastructure services and standards. These resources exemplify the diverse array of open practices essential for sharing research data and publications. And the best part? IOI is constantly expanding! Check out “How can I add an infrastructure service” below to learn more.

From repository software to persistent identifiers, Infra Finder offers detailed insights into each service’s technical specifications, community engagement strategies, governance, key policies, and more. It’s your one-stop shop for finding the perfect infrastructure services tailored to your institution’s needs.

Who Can Benefit from Infra Finder? Infra Finder is perfect for: Those with specific technologies in mind, seeking a centralized source for detailed information to aid decision-making. Individuals with specific needs but no particular technologies in mind. Infra Finder’s filterable options help you explore and discover the ideal fit for your requirements. As we continue to gather feedback from the community, we’re exploring even more ways Infra Finder can be of service.

Empowering Informed Decision-Making: IOI understand the challenges institutional leaders face when navigating the vast array of technology options. That’s why Infra Finder aims to be your trusted source of information, guiding institutions towards informed decisions that promote open research and scholarship.

To achieve this goal, Infra Finder offers: Up-to-date, verified information: We collaborate closely with infrastructure service providers to ensure Infra Finder remains current and accurate. Centralized key information: Recognizing the diverse needs of institutions and stakeholders, Infra Finder consolidates extensive information into one convenient location. Easy comparison view: Infra Finder’s intuitive comparison feature allows you to assess up to four infrastructure services side-by-side, complete with links to detailed information.

Your Feedback Shapes Infra Finder’s: Future Infra Finder is a product of collaboration with infrastructure service providers and users. Your feedback has been invaluable in shaping this initial release, and it will continue to guide our future enhancements.

We invite you to explore Infra Finder and share your thoughts and insights through our feedback form. Additionally, join IOI for informational sessions on May 2 and May 3 to demo Infra Finder and provide further feedback. See registration links below.

Need Additional Support? If you’re looking to expand your institution’s or network’s use of open infrastructure, IOI offers targeted research and recommendations tailored to your needs. Learn more about their strategic support program.

FAQ: Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Infra Finder. For a comprehensive list, please refer to their documentation.

1. How were the initial services included in Infra Finder selected? For the current release, we focused on infrastructure services facilitating the sharing of research data and publications, aligning with our core programs of work. We invited 84 service providers to participate, resulting in responses from 57 services. We’ll continue to add more services to Infra Finder in the future.
2. How does Infra Finder differ from other registries and assessment tools? Infra Finder builds upon existing efforts to map and bring visibility to infrastructure services. It takes a user-driven approach to increase the adoption of open infrastructure in a scalable way. For more information, refer to our documentation.
3. What defines open infrastructure? Open infrastructure encompasses a spectrum of services, including those meeting criteria such as open source software, openly licensed content distribution, free accessibility, community governance, and non-profit operation.
4. How does Infra Finder cater to a global community? We aim for Infra Finder to serve a global audience by featuring a diverse range of open infrastructure services, including those from regions outside of Europe and North America. We’re committed to refining Infra Finder based on feedback from stakeholders worldwide.

For more information, please visit Invest in Open Infrastructure (IOI) website.

Posted Apr 22, 2024 by Chrys Wu, Lauren Collister and Emmy Tsang