About FRDN

The Flemish Research Data Network (FRDN) is a network of 36 Flemish research performing organizations that collaborate on Open and FAIR data. This way, it supports individual institutions to implement the Open Science policy of the Flemish government, and to connect with international initiatives, such as the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).

Our figure embodies our vision and mission: to accelerate research impact through Open Science in Flemish research institutions. It illustrates a dynamic network of collaboration, enabling the exchange and reuse of FAIR and open research (meta)data, while fostering peer learning among researchers through our support system. The interconnected building blocks symbolize the foundation for interchangeable and reusable research data, empowering researchers and enhancing research integrity and efficiency.

We are on a mission.

Our vision

By joining forces and co-creating the necessary building blocks for Open Science, we support Flemish research institutions in enabling researchers to exchange and reuse FAIR and/or open research (meta)data. This way, we contribute to the integrity, quality, and efficiency of research, and thus to accelerating research impact and innovation in society.
Our mission

As a network and community of research data professionals, we support Flemish research institutions in implementing the (Flemish) Open Science policy by coordinating and facilitating peer-to-peer learning, collaboration(s), and co-creation, and by shaping the prerequisites for making research (meta)data interchangeable and reusable. During this process, we help research organizations in supporting their researchers to implement Open Science practices and we provide input for policymakers to facilitate this process.

Our values

The governance and activities of the FRDN are guided by a set of core values.

Professional and reflective

The network is high-quality, self-learning, result-oriented and agile. It focuses on scientific integrity and the advancement of expertise, and is able to tackle the challenges in a rapidly evolving (international) landscape.

three people icons, each with its own speech bubble.

Collaborative and responsive

The main strength of the network is to build a community across institutions, focused on solving practical problems. We focus on interaction between research data professionals and build solutions together with those directly involved.

Hands that take each others wrist and form a rectangular shape

Inclusive and complementary

We make full use of the heterogeneity of the network. In this way, researchers from knowledge institutions and from different disciplines in Flanders, can advance towards Open Science.

Three people (icons) look at four dots that are connected.

Open and transparent

Knowledge institutions work together on common goals in an open and transparent climate. It is clear how and why decisions are made as we strive for maximum knowledge sharing within the network.

Lightbulb with half a gear and electronic connections

Innovative and research-oriented

As a network, we want to introduce innovative practices that put Flanders on the map in the international (Open) Science landscape. Conversely, we wish to implement the latest international and European developments on Open Science in the Flemish framework. Researchers are the sounding board for solutions and developments that take shape in the FRDN.

These values are the result of a participatory process involving all members of the network.

Five people in a meeting around a table all looking toward the screen that is on the table. Behind that screen are post-its on the wall.

The governance

The governance structure

FRDN designed a governance structure that responds (proactively) to the rapidly evolving international Open Science landscape. It enables us to reach our impactful goals in an efficient and collaborative way.

Discover our governance in detail