As 2024 comes to a close, we’re proud to reflect on the critical role SCOSS has played in connecting essential open infrastructure resources to funding and creating a space for collaboration and support. This year, thanks to your pledges, we’ve made meaningful, sustainable progress.
Key Highlights of 2024
As of 2024, over 345 institutions have pledged support for SCOSS-endorsed, noncommercial, Open Science infrastructure, raising over 6.4M Euro for 15 infrastructures.
- Welcoming New Members
We welcomed The Research Data Alliance (RDA), a global leader in data standards and community building, and Software Heritage, the world’s largest software code repository, to the SCOSS Family. Their inclusion strengthens the global open infrastructure network. - Advancing 3rd & 4th Pledging Rounds
- arXiv hired key staff, including a Community Engagement Manager, software developers, a project manager, and a documentation specialist, while also updating legacy code.
- DSpace hired a part-time coordinator to manage operations and community engagement for the global DSpace network.
- REDALYC is establishing one of the first data centers for Diamond OA in Latin America, enhancing computing power to improve service throughput for end users and journals.
- LA Referencia launched dARK, a global PID solution for low-resourced institutions, advancing open infrastructure support worldwide.
- Dryad hired a marketing consultant to grow its membership base, strengthening its sustainability.
- ROR implemented key technical upgrades, including a major API update to handle their over 10 million requests monthly.
The Challenge
While these accomplishments are significant, most infrastructures did not reach their full funding targets. The past 12 months have seen a decline in funding, while the need for sustained support has never been more critical.
To address this, the SCOSS Board launched a strategy to engage library consortia and research funders across previously untapped geographic and sectoral areas. The Consortium Task Force is expanding consortia participation by showcasing successful partnerships and developing outreach materials that highlight how SCOSS integrates into library workflows to support open infrastructure. The Research Funder Task Force is engaging with funders to strengthen support for SCOSS-endorsed infrastructures.
We recently launched a new “How to Fund” webpage that provides clear guidance on how individual organizations, consortia, and research funders can contribute to sustaining open infrastructure.
SCOSS Family Collaborations
The SCOSS Family Community of Practice brings together organizations to collaborate, innovate, and learn from one another. Current efforts focus on operational and service-level collaborations, with key priorities including fundraising capacity and related areas like marketing, sales, and communications. On the service front, metadata interoperability and process improvement have been identified as critical needs. The newly launched SCOSS Directors’ Network provides a dedicated space for infrastructure leaders to address shared challenges, exchange knowledge, and foster strategic collaboration. Lastly, the Communications Group meets regularly to exchange ideas and share expertise, strengthening advocacy efforts and amplifying the collective voice of SCOSS-endorsed infrastructures.
Looking Ahead to 2025
We’re excited to introduce the next set of SCOSS-endorsed infrastructures for Pledging Round 6. These established services address concrete needs and rely on community support to innovate, expand globally, and ensure long-term sustainability. They need your support.
Join Us in Sustaining Open Science
Your support is essential — not only for the success of SCOSS’s 3-year campaigns but for the long-term sustainability of open infrastructure. These are the vital resources that your researchers, students, and staff rely on daily. If you have any funds left at the end of the year and are looking for a good cause to invest in, no need to look any further as some of our infrastructures are still trying to reach their targets. Find out how to pledge here.
Amplify the power of collective funding with a pledge today!