Creation and Development of a Social Science Research Infrastructure in Italy: The FOSSR Project

Abstract

In the field of the social sciences, research infrastructures (RIs) play an increasingly crucial role in ensuring access to open data and shared tools at the European level. Within this context, the FOSSR project (Fostering Open Science in Social Science Research), funded by the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), aims to build an integrated national infrastructure for social research, enhancing cooperation among existing RIs. FOSSR seeks to facilitate the collection, analysis, and dissemination of high-quality social data by providing advanced tools and resources to support both research and evidence-based public policy. A key element of the project is the creation of the Italian Online Probability Panel (IOPP) and its integration with major European surveys –GUIDE, GGS, and SHARE –to establish a coherent and interoperable ecosystem. This synergy between national and international surveys is a core component of the initiative, designed to strengthen Italy’s capacity to address complex social challenges through collaborative, transparent, and innovation-driven approaches. As such, FOSSR positions itself as a strategic research infrastructure for tackling contemporary social issues, promoting the principles of Open Science, and reinforcing Italy’s role within the European research landscape in the social sciences.