Over FRDN
The Flemish Research Data Network (FRDN) is a network of 36 Flemish research performing institutions that collaborate on Open and FAIR data. This way, it supports individual institutions to implement the Open Science policy of the Flemish government, and to connect with international initiatives, like the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).


We are on a mission.
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Our vision
By joining forces and co-creating the necessary building blocks for Open Science, we support Flemish research institutions in enabling researchers to exchange and reuse FAIR and/or open research (meta)data. This way, we contribute to the integrity, quality, and efficiency of research, and thus to accelerating research impact and innovation in society.
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Our mission
As a network and community of research data professionals, we support Flemish research institutions in implementing the (Flemish) Open Science policy by coordinating and facilitating peer-to-peer learning, collaboration(s), and co-creation, and by shaping the prerequisites for making (meta)data interchangeable and reusable. During this process, we help research organizations in supporting their researchers to implement Open Science practices and we provide input for policymakers to facilitate this process.
Our values
The governance and activities of the Flemish Research Data Network (FRDN) are guided by a set of core values.

Professional and reflective
The network is high-quality, self-learning, results-oriented and agile. It focuses on scientific integrity and the advancement of expertise, and is able to tackle the challenges in a rapidly evolving (international) landscape

Collaborative and responsive
The main strength of the network is community building across institutions, aimed at solving practical issues. We focus on interaction between research data professionals and build solutions together with those directly involved.

Inclusive and complementary
We take full advantage of the heterogeneity of the network. This way, researchers from knowledge institutions and from different disciplines in Flanders, can advance towards Open Science.

Open and transparent
Knowledge institutions work together on common goals in an open and transparent climate. It is clear how and why decisions are made as we strive for maximum knowledge sharing within the network.

Innovative and research-oriented
As a network, we want to introduce innovative practices that will put Flanders on the map in the international (Open) Science landscape. Conversely, we wish to implement the latest international and European developments regarding Open Science in the Flemish framework. Researchers are the sounding board for solutions and developments that take shape in the FRDN.
Support team

Joke Meeus
Policy officer network coordinationJoke Meeus

Bart Dooms
Member Coordination HubBart Dooms

Ulrike Kenens
Member Coordination HubUlrike Kenens

Elisa Maes
Member Coordination Hub"Together we can make Open Science a reality"
Elisa Maes

Hannelore Vanhaverbeke
Member Coordination HubHannelore Vanhaverbeke

Sarah Decoster
Chair Working Group RDM & OSFor a responsible and sustainable Open Science ecosystem, truly at the service of researchers and adequately connected with society.
Sarah Decoster

Evy Neyens
Chair of the project group Flemish ecosystem of metadata for research data and the project group Criteria for discipline specific repositoriesEvy Neyens

Charlotte D'Eer
Knowledge Hub community managerCharlotte D'Eer

Tessa Acar
Communication officerTessa Acar

Bart Dumolyn
EWI Open Science officerBart Dumolyn
