In partnership with Stellenbosch University Library and Information Service, Digital Science held its first Figshare South Africa User Group Conference at STIAS from 31 July to 1 August 2025. Figshare is the platform used for Stellenbosch University’s institutional research data repository, SUNScholarData. It forms part of the products that Digital Science makes available, alongside other important platforms such as  Symplectic Elements, Dimensions, and Altmetric Explorer.

Attendees were research data professionals, librarians, and institutional stakeholders from across the country who came to explore the evolving landscape of open research and data management and share their experiences. The event highlighted strategic innovations, platform developments, and institutional leadership in advancing responsible data practices.

Stellenbosch University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning opened the conference. Together with Dr Mark Hahnel (VP Open Research at Digital Science), they set the tone for a forward-looking dialogue. They emphasised the global momentum behind Open Access, the ethical responsibilities of data publishers, and the transformative potential of AI in research. Dr Mark Hahnel, in particular, praised South African institutions for their proactive stance and reaffirmed the importance of institutional support in making open data both feasible and rewarding.

During the conference, platform updates from Figshare included a redesigned interface for research outputs, enhanced mapping tools for geospatial data, and improved usability features. These developments aim to streamline data sharing and increase accessibility for researchers and institutions alike.

Institutional case studies showcased practical applications of Figshare across diverse contexts:

  • The University of Pretoria demonstrated SDG tagging within metadata, boosting discoverability and supporting its impact rankings performance.
  • The University of the Witwatersrand previewed its Open Data Vault, integrating Figshare with Altmetric and Dimensions to support large-scale impact tracking.
  • Stellenbosch University presented SUNScholarData, its FAIR-compliant repository, with ongoing efforts to build researcher capacity and efforts to align outputs with the SDGs.

A panel discussion explored challenges in research data management, including cultural resistance, infrastructure gaps, and the role of data in performance evaluation. Collaboration, automation, and community engagement emerged as key factors for sustainable progress.

Day two focused on research assessment reform, innovative workflows, and the broader role of open science. Speakers included Ms Nosisa Dube (National Research Foundation), who delivered the keynote and advocated for inclusive, values-driven assessment models aligned with DORA and UNESCO’s Open Science Recommendation.UCT showcased its digitisation of the Bolus Herbarium via Figshare’s API, illustrating scalable workflows for digital preservation. The HSRC presented its Dataset Request System, balancing openness with compliance for sensitive national survey data. UJ highlighted Figshare’s versatility in hosting diverse outputs, from exam papers to creative works, while Stellenbosch University shared its implementation of Symplectic Elements to streamline DHET reporting and researcher profiling.

The conference concluded with a group session identifying barriers – such as fragmented policies and skills shortages – and opportunities in automation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and national coordination.

Overall, the event affirmed South Africa’s leadership in open research and data stewardship, underscoring the importance of institutional innovation, inclusive assessment, and strategic collaboration in shaping the future of scholarly communication. The case studies from the various institutions showcased the power of open science in the pursuit of excellence in research and how our own platform, SUNScholarData, may be further utilised going forward.

Author: Kirchner van Deventer