Reflecting on IASSIST 2025: Bridging Oceans and Anchoring the Future of Data Services

From June 3–6, 2025, the IASSIST community gathered in Bristol, UK, for a landmark event- IASSIST at 50, hosted by the University of the West of England. With the theme "Bridging oceans, harbouring data & anchoring the future," the conference celebrated five decades of advancing social science data services, technology, and professional collaboration. Participants from around the globe explored the evolving landscape of research data management, open science, and responsible research assessment.

Among the contributions to this anniversary edition were two contributions from OpenAIRE, focused on empowering research libraries with innovative services that support the entire research lifecycle.

Showcasing OpenAIRE Services for Research Libraries

A poster titled "Supporting Research Libraries with OpenAIRE Services: Providing Essential Assistance" highlighted the suite of tools OpenAIRE offers to strengthen the work of research support staff and librarians. These services, such as Argos for creating FAIR-aligned Data Management Plans, OpenAIRE CONNECT for building customized research gateways, and OpenAIRE MONITOR for tracking research impact- generated considerable interest among attendees, especially those involved in institutional data support roles.

Conference participants expressed strong enthusiasm for how these tools enhance data stewardship, promote open science practices, and provide valuable analytics for institutional decision-making. The poster session became a focal point for lively discussions on integrating OpenAIRE solutions into local workflows and infrastructures.

Open Science Assessment with the OpenAIRE Graph

In a parallel session, OpenAIRE partners presented "Enhancing Open Science Responsible Research Assessment and Decision-Making with the OpenAIRE Graph." The presentation outlined the strategic role of research librarians in leveraging the OpenAIRE Graph- a comprehensive database containing over 242 million research products, including 81 million open access items.

The session emphasized how services such as OpenAIRE Provide, OpenCitations, OpenAPC, and OpenAIRE MONITOR integrate with the Graph to support responsible, non-commercial, and FAIR-aligned research assessment practices. Particular focus was given to how these tools help Research Performing and Funding Organisations (RPOs and RFOs) move beyond traditional metrics by offering richer insights into research outputs and their broader impact.

This topic resonated widely with the audience, who were eager to explore practical implementations of these tools in support of transparency and institutional strategy.

A Forward-Looking Celebration

IASSIST 2025 offered not only a retrospective on five decades of progress in data services but also a forward-looking vision for the role of data professionals in shaping the future of research. OpenAIRE's presence at the event underscored the importance of open infrastructure, trusted metadata, and librarian engagement in building sustainable, inclusive data ecosystems.

The strong interest shown in OpenAIRE's services throughout the conference highlights a growing recognition of the value of open, interoperable tools in enhancing institutional research capacity and promoting open science principles.

As IASSIST looks toward its next chapter, the collaborative spirit, innovation, and community-driven momentum evident in Bristol will undoubtedly continue to shape the future of research data services worldwide.