ASHER

Funding for the ASHER program was provided to assist eligible HEPs to develop their data systems to prepare for the Research Quality Framework (RQF) which has been replaced by the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative.

The Australian Government is providing $25.5 million through the ASHER program over three years to assist eligible HEPs to establish and maintain digital repositories. This will allow institutions to place their research outputs, including journal articles and less traditional outputs such as digitised artworks or x-ray crystallography images in an accessible digital store for a variety of purposes, including assessment of research. It will also allow HEPs to make their research outputs more widely available to other researchers, business and the community.

The scheme builds on previous Government investment for research and development of data repository technology, the management of user authentication and access, and related copyright issues to improve the discoverability and accessibility of publicly funded research.

The ASHER program is yet another way that the Australian Government continues to show its commitment to making publicly funded research more readily available.

For more information on the ASHER programs visist the official webpage:

http://www.innovation.gov.au/Section/AboutDIISR/FactSheets/Pages/AustralianSchemeforHigherEducationRepositories(AHSER)FactSheet.aspx

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