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 Co-Chair, Science.gov Alliance -

2Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005 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

3Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005 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.”

4Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005 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

5Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005 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?

6Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005 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

7Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005 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

8Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005 What are major countries doing about integrated national science and technology information networks? – Science portal points for comparison National authority AudiencesTechnologiesContentLanguages “On Web” services “Off Web” services FundingParticipationMomentumEvaluation

9Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005 Selected Examples of National Science Portals of Major Countries AustraliaCanadaFranceJapanGermany United States

10Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005 Australia System(s): 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

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12Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005 Canada System(s): cisti-icist.nrc- cnrc.gc.ca/cisti_e.html cisti-icist.nrc- cnrc.gc.ca/cisti_e.htmlwww.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 site

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15Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005 France System(s): 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

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17Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005 Germany System(s): 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

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19Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005 Japan System(s): 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

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21Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005 United States System(s): 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” s Funding: voluntary contributions by participating agencies Participation: 17 organizations in 12 agencies Momentum: Science.gov Alliance structure, CENDI association Evaluation: TBD

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23Frierson KISTEP 30 March 2005 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