The role of FAIR nanosafety data and nanoinformatics in achieving the UN sustainable development goals: the NanoCommons experience

Abstract

The increasing focus on open and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-useable) data is driving a step-change in how research communities and governments think about data and knowledge, and the potential for re-use of data. It has long been recognised that international data sharing is essential for regulatory harmonisation and commercialisation, via the Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD) principle of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for example. However, it is interesting to note that despite the power of data and data-driven software to support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), there appears to be limited awareness of how nanomaterials environmental health and safety (nano EHS) data can drive progress towards many of the SDGs. The goal of the NanoCommons research infrastructure project was to increase FAIRness and impact of nanoEHS data through development of services, including data shepherding to support researchers across the data life cycle and tools such as user-friendly nanoinformatics predictive models. We surveyed both service providers and service users on their ideas regarding how nanoEHS data might support the SDGs, and discovered a significant lack of awareness of the SDGs in general, and the potential for impact from NanoCommons tools and services. To address this gap, a workshop on the SDGs was prepared and delivered to support the NanoCommons service providers to understand the SDGs and how nanosafety data and nanoinformatics can support their achievement. Following the workshop, providers were invited to update their questionnaire responses. The results from the workshop discussions are presented, along with a summary of the 12 SDGs identified where increasingly accessible nanoEHS data will have a significant impact, and the 5 that are indirectly benefited along with some recommendations for EU-funded projects on how they can maximise and monitor their contributions to the SDGs.