Research Data Sharing and Valorization

2The Landscape of Research Data Repositories in France

Joachim SCHÖPFEL

University of Lille, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France

2.1. Introduction

How many research data repositories are there in France? In this chapter, we attempt to provide an answer to this question, with an analysis of the typology of repositories, their scientific domains and their quality. Yet what does “in France” mean in such a highly internationalized landscape?

2.2. Context

In 2015, most data repositories were located in four countries, namely the United States, Germany, the UK and Canada, which then accounted for 70% of the institutions in the international re3data directory (Kindling et al. 2017). Five years later, in June 2020, the situation had not changed; on the contrary, this concentration increased, with these four countries now representing 80% of the 2,516 repositories listed. France followed in the fifth position, but lagged quite far behind with only 107 sites, which corresponds to less than 5% on the international level (see Figure 2.1)¹.

Figure 2.1. Most represented countries among institutions responsible for data repositories (source: re3data, survey of May 4, 2021)

Rebouillat (2017) has described the French landscape of research data services as emerging, heterogeneous. They are also facing two major challenges: sustainability (economic model), especially for long-term preservation and ...