The National Open Research Forum (NORF) has announced the recipients of the 2025 NORF Open Research Fund, reaffirming Ireland’s commitment to advancing open research and data stewardship across the higher education and research sectors. Among the four funded projects is Sonraí, the Irish Data Stewardship Network, hosted and led by HEAnet’s Research and Engagement Officer, Jenny O’Neill, reflecting the organisation’s growing leadership in national data infrastructure and open research innovation.
The 2025 NORF Open Research Fund supports four national networks:
- Diamond Capacity Hub Ireland
- Open Repositories Ireland
- Sonraí – Irish Data Stewardship Network
- TROPIC
Each of these networks was initially established under the 2022 NORF Open Research Fund and has demonstrated significant progress in advancing the National Action Plan for Open Research 2022–2030.
Strengthening Ireland’s Open Research Ecosystem
Funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science through the Higher Education Authority, and administered by the Digital Repository of Ireland under the Royal Irish Academy, the NORF Open Research Fund represents a strategic investment in the sustainability and growth of Ireland’s open research ecosystem.
The 2025 call specifically targeted existing networks formed under the 2022 scheme, with the goal of transitioning these projects into enduring, self-sustaining communities of practice. This initiative directly supports Action A3.4 of the National Action Plan for Open Research, which calls for NORF to “support institutional and community networks for open research.”
HEAnet and the Sonraí Network
Supported by HEAnet, Ireland’s National Education and Research Network, Sonraí, the Irish Data Stewardship Network has evolved from the 2022-funded National Data Stewardship Network project. Under the leadership of Jenny O’Neill, this Sonraí project aims to develop and embed data stewardship skills across Ireland’s research landscape by:
- Raising the visibility and professional recognition of data stewardship roles.
- Supporting the professionalisation and capacity-building of data stewards.
- Fostering knowledge-sharing and collaboration across the research community.
Through these efforts, Sonraí seeks to ensure the effective curation, preservation, and dissemination of Ireland’s valuable research data assets, contributing to a more open, transparent, and collaborative research environment.
The NORF 2025 Open Research Fund represents not only a continuation of Ireland’s progress in open research but also a firm investment in the people and practices that sustain it. Through initiatives like Sonraí, Ireland continues to establish itself as a leader in open, collaborative, and responsible research.
