The mission of SSHOC-CH is to create a cluster of social science and humanities research infrastructures in Switzerland, encompassing both national infrastructures and the national nodes of international infrastructures. The goal is to ensure the exchange and cooperation of research infrastructures to support research projects and researchers, identify and foster synergies, and, where possible, develop joint platforms and services or enhance the interoperability of existing ones. SSHOC-CH provides a framework for the establishment of new research infrastructures and establishes connections with SSHOC at the European level and with other national clusters. By facilitating cooperation and support, SSHOC-CH complements existing infrastructures and their activities, which are represented by a member of the SSHOC-CH association. (Translation from SSHOC-CH Statutes)
To advance knowledge production and innovation in the social sciences and humanities national research infrastructures are indispensable for the research community. While disciplinary differences regarding data types, technologies, methodologies, and research questions exist, it is also obvious that scholars from social sciences and humanities face similar challenges when it comes to complying with Open Science requirements. Moreover, the production, analysis and storage of the various types of data (such as survey data, text data, images, etc.) produced in the social sciences and humanities requires well-equipped infrastructure and up-to date expertise.
While in Switzerland, such infrastructure and expertise are available in the so-called national (i.e. FORS, SWISSUbase, DaSCH and LiRI) or local infrastructures (i.e. Collection Builder, Fondue, Geovistory, nodegoat, Année politique Suisse, swiss vote, histHub, dodis, metagrid, infoclio.ch), there is a lack of active exchange between these infrastructures. However, such an exchange is needed to synergize expertise, develop joint, uncomplicated solutions and to foster innovation in research. Moreover, such a joint endeavor will allow Switzerland to catch-up and compete with already existing European solutions.
Consult our White Paper written on the occasion of the founding of SSHOC-CH (click here to download the latest version published on September 4, 2024).