Strengthening Open Science Expertise: National RDM Training Network of Finland

Increasing data volumes, rapid digitisation and the demands for open science and responsible research data management (RDM) — driven by research organisations, funders and policymakers — have created a growing demand for RDM services. This complex and ever-changing field requires that RDM specialists continuously adapt and develop new competencies in order to support scholars practising open science. The National research data management (RDM) Training Network in Finland addresses the specific challenges faced by RDM specialists in the country, where the small population size limits the number of RDM specialists, leading to a reliance on cross-organisational collaboration. Often, these specialists are the only experts in their organisations, tasked with diverse responsibilities across disciplines. Additionally, they face time constraints, high staff turnover and a lack of formal RDM training. Recognising these challenges, Finland's National RDM Training Network was established to support and bridge gaps in resources and expertise, and to have a significant impact on the wider academic and research community by enhancing competencies and reducing disparities between institutions. Another goal is to produce publicly available training materials and resources on platforms such as Zenodo to promote transparency and sharing. Originally a modest assembly under the National Open Science and Research Coordination (AVOTT), the network has matured under a broad cooperation network Finn-ARMA, bringing together professionals from some 30 organisations. It is open to both open science professionals and scholars. The network strengthens the Finnish RDM landscape, offering solutions to meet growing demands and resource limitations, and contributing to a sustainable knowledge ecosystem. In this presentation we will explore the origins, development and activities of the Finnish RDM Training Network and discuss its role in bridging expertise gaps and its impact on the wider research community and how working together with shared resources can speed up the transition to open science.