As the year draws to a close Eva Stensköld, director of the Swedish National Data Service (SND), reflects on the progress made under her leadership. Since taking on the role earlier this year, Eva has been a driving force in advancing open science, enhancing research infrastructure, and fostering collaboration across Sweden and internationally.

Eva’s vision for SND is rooted in the belief that open science and accessible research infrastructure are not only essential for the quality of research but also critical to ensuring fairness and inclusivity in academia. “It’s about being an enabler,” Eva emphasizes. “Creating good conditions for research allows both large institutions and smaller universities to benefit equally from robust support structures.”

Building a Foundation for Open Science

Over the past six months, SND has initiated strategic work to prepare for future investments, expanded its role in international collaborations like the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), and continued to provide researchers with quality-assured systems for research data management. Eva has also prioritized outreach, touring universities in the SND Consortium to strengthen ties and assess how SND can better support research data management across disciplines, no matter how small or large a university is.

SND’s participation in Almedalsveckan 2024 highlighted the urgency of transitioning to open science. At the event, Eva attended a panel discussion that posed the critical question: The road to open access to research data – how is the transition progressing? The panel underscored that open science is an ongoing, collective responsibility, a sentiment that Eva passionately echoes.

Strengthening Research Infrastructure

Eva’s professional journey—spanning roles at the Swedish History Museum, Swedish Research Council, and various government ministries—has equipped her with the tools to navigate the complexities of research infrastructure and policy. Her broad network and collaborative approach have already proven invaluable in her role at SND.

As Sweden anticipates the government’s forthcoming research and innovation bill, expected to prioritize research infrastructures and data, Eva sees a unique opportunity for SND to solidify its position as a national knowledge hub. “As I see it, good e-infrastructure is the foundation for conducting research. I hope we gain acceptance to raise our ambitions. The investments we make within SND are very long-term, so it's challenging that our mandate in this area is short-term”, she asserts. 

A Shared Commitment to the Future

Eva’s leadership comes at an important time, with challenges such as managing sensitive data and ensuring the sustainability of research infrastructures. Despite these complexities, she remains optimistic, emphasizing the collective efforts of SND’s network and consortium universities. “The SND Consortium and the nine universities in it are fundamental to SND’s operations, along with our network – it gives us muscle, grounds us at the HEIs and among researchers, and provides access to valuable knowledge and expertise, as well as important co-financing. It’s incredibly rewarding to meet our consortium universities; to listen to how they work with their research data management and discuss how SND can contribute to this work.”, she highlights.

Eva encourages everyone involved in research and open science to take a moment to reflect on their role in building “open access to scientific texts, research results, and research data” freely for the society.

Through her leadership and vision, Eva Stensköld is shaping the future of SND, and reinforcing the importance of open science as a cornerstone of innovation and democracy.