The Norwegian Government’s latest white paper on research policy, “Sikker kunnskap i en usikker verden” (Secure Knowledge in an Uncertain World, Meld. St. 14, 2024–2025), places strong emphasis on strengthening data infrastructure to meet the challenges of the digital era. Within this forward-looking framework, CESSDA (Consortium of European Social Science Data Archives) is highlighted as a leading example of how research-driven data infrastructures can generate value far beyond academia.

Recognised as a Model for Cross-Sectoral Impact

In the section “A Research System Prepared for the Digital Shift”, the paper underlines the growing importance of data infrastructures that serve both research and public administration. It notes that several infrastructures originally developed for research purposes have proven invaluable for other sectors as well. Among these, CESSDA is explicitly named:

“Examples of data infrastructures designed for research purposes but also valuable in other sectors include:
– CESSDA (Consortium of European Social Science Data Archive), which provides researchers and decision-makers with access to statistical data and services.”
(Meld. St. 14, 2024–2025, Chapter 3.2.1)

By placing CESSDA alongside other large-scale European infrastructures such as ELIXIR (for life sciences) and ICOS (for climate research), the Norwegian government highlights its significance as a European success story: a platform that bridges research excellence and societal relevance.

Part of a Broader National Vision

The white paper situates CESSDA within a broader national ambition for Norway to offer “world-class data infrastructures preferred by international users.” The government stresses that digital infrastructures are critical to both national resilience and international cooperation, especially in a global landscape marked by rapid technological change, artificial intelligence, and evolving security concerns.

This policy framework recognises that data infrastructures like CESSDA embody the principles of openness, interoperability, and accessibility, qualities that make them essential not only for researchers, but also for evidence-based policymaking and innovation across society.

A Vote of Confidence in Research-Based Data Sharing

The inclusion of CESSDA in this high-level policy document signals the Norwegian government’s confidence in European data collaboration as a cornerstone of future research systems. It reinforces the message that data sharing, when managed securely and responsibly, is fundamental to building societal trust and enabling knowledge-driven governance.

The white paper’s overall message, “Secure knowledge in an uncertain world,” aligns closely with CESSDA’s mission: ensuring that reliable, well-documented social science data remains accessible to researchers, policymakers, and citizens alike.