Building the RIs Facility for Open Science

This chapter examines the evolution of Research Infrastructures (RIs) and their strategic role in supporting Open Science, with particular reference to the FOSSR (Fostering Open Science in Social Science Research) infrastructure. Modern RIs are presented as distributed digital ecosystems that integrate high-performance computing, cloud platforms, advanced storage, virtual research environments, federated identity management, and interoperable data services. The chapter describes the architectural and technological components of FOSSR, highlighting its ability to provide scalable computing resources, facilitate multidisciplinary collaboration, and support the management and reuse of heterogeneous social science data. Particular attention is devoted to the implementation of FAIR principles—Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability—through standardized metadata, persistent identifiers, open APIs, semantic technologies, and reproducible workflows. Security, privacy, and regulatory compliance are addressed through role-based access control, audit mechanisms, data minimization, and privacy-by-design approaches aligned with GDPR and NIS2 requirements. The analysis also identifies persistent cultural, technical, legal, and organizational barriers to data openness, including fragmented standards, legacy systems, limited skills, and insufficient institutional incentives. The FOSSR experience demonstrates that effective Research Infrastructures require not only advanced technologies, but also federated governance, sustainable policies, specialized expertise, and an inclusive scientific culture capable of fostering trustworthy, collaborative, and socially beneficial research.