Trieste, Italy, June 16, 2022 – After rounds of discussion and extensive technical evaluation sessions, LA Reference/RedCLARA and ASREN (Arab States Research and Education Network), signed an agreement within the framework of COAR (Confederation of Open Access Repositories) and the LIBSENSE Initiative, which aims at the continuous exchange of information and infrastructure between the two organizations.

The collaboration involves ASREN’s adoption of LA Reference’s open source software. ASREN will launch a regional platform for the collection, validation, enrichment and publication of metadata of scientific production in the Arab region, increasing the visibility of Arabic content locally and internationally. ASREN will share the experience with other African networks through the AfricaConnect3 project co-funded by the EU and the LIBSENSE Initiative, which would lead to the creation of similar research discovery portals that foster open access and open science in Africa.

“This agreement offers a great opportunity to share our experiences in Latin America and work together with ASREN and other African networks to help improve the visibility of Arabic and African content. We look forward to learning from ASREN and improving our open platform for the benefit of all its users,” commented Lautaro Matas, Executive and Technical Director of LA Reference.

Yousef Torman, CEO of ASREN, said: “This agreement brings us closer to achieving sustainable open science in the Arab region and Africa and supports greater discoverability of Arabic content. We look forward to continuing to work with LA Reference/RedCLARA for the mutual benefit of our communities.”

In the coming months, ASREN will launch its version of the LA Reference harvester and begin adding content from repositories and other content providers in the region.

About THE Reference

The Federated Network of Institutional Repositories of Scientific Publications, or simply LA Reference, is the Latin American network of open access repositories. THE Reference is made up of government representatives of public science and technology organizations from the member countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Panama, Peru and Uruguay, together with RedCLARA.

LA Reference was born through the Cooperation Agreement, signed in Buenos Aires in 2012, which reflects the political will to offer open access the scientific production of Latin America as a regional public good with emphasis on results financed with public funds. Through its services, it supports national Open Access strategies in Latin America, sharing and giving visibility to the scientific production generated in higher education and scientific research institutions.

About RedCLARA

RedCLARA is the Latin American Research and Education Network, regional leader and promoter of collaboration and development in education, science and innovation, through its e-infrastructure and services adapted to the needs of its community. RedCLARA provides regional interconnections and connections with the world through its international links and promotes the development of tools, services and research projects to enhance regional scientific and educational development and collaboration within Latin American R&E institutions and Latin America and the rest of the world with an important focus on less developed regions.

For more information, visit: www.redclara.net

About ASREN

ASREN, the Arab States Research and Education Network, is an international non-profit organization, registered in Germany, and operating under the umbrella of the League of Arab States. ASREN is the association of the National Research and Education Networks (NREN) of the Arab region, as well as its strategic partners that aim to implement, manage and extend sustainable pan-Arab e-infrastructures dedicated to the research and education communities and to boost scientific research and cooperation in member countries through the provision of world-class e-infrastructures and e-services. The goal is to connect Arab institutions with each other and with the world through high-speed data communication networks; promote pan-Arab collaborative research and education projects and activities; and contribute to promoting scientific research, innovation and education throughout the Arab region.

For more information, please visit: www.asrenorg.net

About LIBSENSE

LIBSENSE is a continental initiative to expand open science in Africa, based on strategies and solutions that work in the African context. Launched in 2017, LIBSENSE brings together leading players in Africa to promote open science, building bridges between countries and stakeholder communities. At the same time, LIBSENSE engages in South-South collaborations with Latin America and internationally to ensure that Africa’s perspective is represented in global discussions and that good practices and standards are applied in the African context.

For more information, please visit: libsense.ren.africa