IPHES-CERCA reinforces its commitment to Open Science at FAIR Data Fair 2026
Researchers and technical staff from the institute took part in several key activities during an edition that brought together 150 professionals working in research data management and scientific research
IPHES-CERCA actively participated in the fourth edition of the FAIR Data Fair 2026, Catalonia’s leading event on Open Science and research data management, held on 18 June at the Assembly Hall of the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV). Bringing together nearly 150 professionals involved in research and scientific data management, the event has become a key forum for sharing experiences, best practices and strategies related to the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable).
The event was organised by the Consortium of University Services of Catalonia (CSUC) together with the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology (ICAC), the Catalan Institute of Chemical Research (ICIQ), the Biomedical Research Institute of Southern Catalonia (IRB Catalunya Sud), the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), and IPHES-CERCA.
IPHES-CERCA played a particularly prominent role in this year’s edition, both scientifically and organisationally. Dr Amèlia Bargalló took part in the round table discussion “Research Data Management in the Territory: What Do We Have and What Is Still Missing?”, which focused on current challenges in Open Science, research data infrastructures and future needs within the Catalan research system.
Marta Fontanals, Head of Knowledge Transfer and Responsible Research at IPHES-CERCA, participated in the FAIR Awards 2026 ceremony, which recognises innovative initiatives in research data management, sharing and reuse.
In addition, Javier Sopesens, Data Manager at IPHES-CERCA, served on the FAIR Data Fair 2026 Scientific Committee, while Marta Fontanals was also a member of the event’s Logistics Committee, further highlighting the institute’s active involvement in the organisation and development of the event.
An edition focused on sharing FAIR experiences
The opening keynote lecture was delivered by physicist and science communicator Josep Perelló Palou, recipient of the 2025 Open Science Award, who reflected on the challenges and opportunities posed by citizen science in relation to the generation and reuse of FAIR data.
One of the main innovations introduced this year was the launch of the Flash Presentations session, where thirteen researchers from different universities and research centres shared practical experiences in implementing FAIR principles. In just 45 minutes, participants presented real-world case studies addressing keyword standardisation, sensitive data management, incomplete datasets, large-scale data processing and institutional Open Science strategies.
The event concluded with the dialogue “Connected Data: Towards Interoperable and Open Research”, featuring representatives from EOSC Spain and ORCID, who discussed current interoperability challenges and the opportunities offered by open digital infrastructures to build a more connected research ecosystem.
Commitment to Open Science
IPHES-CERCA’s participation in the FAIR Data Fair is part of the institute’s broader strategy to promote research that is more open, transparent and reusable, in line with European Open Science standards and FAIR principles.
Within this framework, the institute actively works to integrate its scientific outputs and research datasets into open digital infrastructures, particularly through the RECERCAT and CORA.RDR repositories, thereby contributing to open access, digital preservation and the reuse of scientific knowledge.
Presentations and materials from FAIR Data Fair 2026 will be made available to the research community through the event’s official channels, further supporting its goal of fostering a more open, collaborative and accessible research culture.