The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) unveiled an enhanced version of its digital repository on Tuesday, a pivotal advancement aimed at bolstering the national framework for scientific research and fostering a more open and sustainable knowledge-based society.
Fadhila Taqi, the head of the digital repository project at KISR”s National Center for Scientific and Technological Information, remarked in a press statement that the repository”s development is in line with the institute”s strategic vision to implement digital preservation solutions. These solutions are essential for protecting institutional knowledge and ensuring its continuity, safeguarding it against potential loss or damage.
Taqi elaborated that the upgraded digital repository is constructed on a modern digital platform that aligns with the latest technological advancements. This upgrade enhances operational efficiency, broadens the capacity for managing various scientific content, and provides researchers with streamlined access to KISR”s scientific outputs. She emphasized that this platform also plays a significant role in promoting knowledge exchange among scientific institutions.
The initiative, which commenced several years ago, focuses on preserving KISR”s scientific contributions, beginning with technical reports on research projects and documenting Kuwait”s local scientific achievements. This effort guarantees that these resources remain available for both current and future generations, laying a foundation for ongoing and upcoming research endeavors.
The initial phase of the project involved creating an integrated digital laboratory to facilitate digitization processes using specialized equipment and a digitization management system (DAF), developed in partnership with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. This collaboration has infused advanced features into the digital repository platform. As a result, over 10,000 scientific and technical reports, along with various studies, government initiatives, and other documents, have been digitized, promoting open access to research outputs and enhancing knowledge dissemination both nationally and internationally.
Taqi acknowledged the vital role played by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in enhancing the new version of the digital repository. She noted that the memorandum of understanding signed with the institution in 2011 has enabled KISR to leverage its expertise in establishing and managing digital repositories, covering technical architecture, content management standards, and user-friendly data access.
She stated, “This achievement marks a significant milestone in realizing the objectives of our strategic plan for the science and technology sector and would not have been attainable without the robust support from the institute”s senior management.”
Taqi expressed optimism that the upgraded digital repository will serve as a valuable addition, aligning with Kuwait”s ambitions for a sophisticated scientific and knowledge-driven society.
