The role of e-infrastructure in supporting scientific activities: challenges and perspectives

Abstract

The article outlines the role of e-infrastructures in supporting scientific activities and discusses the challenges and prospects associated with their utilization. In the digital world, e-infrastructures play a crucial role in facilitating access to scientific information, enabling data sharing, and fostering collaboration among research communities. An overview of the main types of e-infrastructures in Ukraine, such as the Ukrainian National Grid (UNG), Ukrainian Research and Academic Network (URAN), GÉANT, and the National Repository of Academic Texts (NRAT), is provided, along with their key characteristics. The main advantages of utilizing e-infrastructures to support and conduct scientific research can be summarized as follows: access to infrastructure and resources, support for various scientific fields, collaboration and cooperation, high productivity and efficiency, integration with international initiatives, ensuring security and confidentiality, and fostering the development of the national scientific and technological community. The primary functions of e-infrastructures are described. Emphasis is placed on the significant impact of e-infrastructures on the scientific community, including notable changes in the organization and communication among researchers facilitated by e-infrastructures. Currently, interaction between scientific fields and communities takes place through e-infrastructures platforms. The experience of the article’s authors in popularizing digital services and e-infrastructures through the organization of scientific mass events for Ukrainian scientists is described. Emphasis is placed on the increased utilization of e-infrastructures by researchers and students, as well as their understanding of the potential for enhancing the efficiency and quality of scientific research.