Promoting social sciences data sharing EU-funded research explored the potential of using information communication technologies for the benefits of social scientific research and knowledge exchange between European and Western Balkan Countries (WBCs). Practical information for enhanced capacity is on offer for exchanging knowledge and data collected through social sciences research. Digital Economy © Thinkstock The 'Support for establishment of national/regional social sciences data archives' (SERSCIDA) project improved dissemination and access to primary research data in the social sciences collected in WBCs. This represents a significant achievement given that in this region, up to now, a lack of infrastructure and other limitations meant there were no sustainable social science data archives available. Specifically, the project targeted EU countries associated with the Council of European Social Sciences Data Archives (CESSDA) and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia. The project raised awareness of the economic benefits of data sharing in WBCs, and promoted the value and benefits of data archives as gateways to data and as research facilitators. The initiative generated discussion regarding collaborative activities that could be realised between data archives and national statistical institutes. SERSCIDA worked with local funding bodies to enhance their understanding of the costs and benefits of supporting sustainable data services, and put in place the operational foundations for three new European data services. SERSCIDA's methodology helped assess each country's potential and readiness to establish an archive. It also enabled the team to gather and organise reference documents and procedures for the establishment of new archives in the future. The project's most remarkable achievement is mushrooming Balkan archives and awareness and support for data sharing that each country has generated in its research and data-producing communities. The work helped build the foundations for data sharing and cemented relationships between these new data services and CESSDA. Beyond enabling the exchange and dissemination of good practice, SERSCIDA also helped raise awareness of the need for research support for open access policies in social sciences. Project work and outcomes have been favourably received by government institutions, universities and researchers alike. Keywords Social sciences, scientific research, knowledge exchange, Western Balkan Countries, data archives
