The National Conference on Research Data will be held in Montpellier on November 9 and 10, 2026

[Press Release] - Published on November 6, 2026 in Press Room

On November 9 and 10, 2026, the University of Montpellier will host the National Conference on Research Data (ANDOR), organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Space ( Research ). Following Aix-Marseille University in 2024 and Paris-Saclay University in 2025, the University of Montpellier will host the 2026 edition, dedicated to “Research Data for the Living Sciences.” This edition will bring together researchers, experts, and institutional stakeholders with a shared goal: to strengthen the culture of research data, promote its sharing and reuse, and support public policy. Two days of discussions to explore the strategic role of scientific data in addressing major environmental, health, and societal challenges.

At a time when data plays a central role in scientific practices and decision-making, the National Conference on Research Data serves as a key opportunity for reflection and the sharing of experiences among stakeholders in research and open science. Its goal? To foster a better understanding of the challenges related to the management, sharing, and reuse of scientific data, in order to promote the sharing of best practices, the dissemination of knowledge, and its application to advance research and public policy.

Scientific Data in the Service of Knowledge and Public Policy

The first day, Monday, November 9, will begin with the participation of Carole Drucker-Godard, Rector of the Occitanie Academic Region, Rector of the Montpellier Academy and Chancellor of the Universities; Véronique Stoll, National Director of Research Data at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Space ( Research ; Research , Director of Data Gouv; Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier; and representatives from the CNRS,Inria, and local governments.

Éric Servat, Honorary Director of the UNESCO ICIREWARD International Center and Chair of the French Committee of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Program, will open this conference with a presentation titled“Data in the Water Sciences: A Strategic Resource for Knowledge and Action.” This presentation will highlight the essential role of scientific data in understanding water-related issues and its contribution to decision-making and public policy.

An initial roundtable discussion will bring together representatives from the research community and various institutions to discuss the role of scientific data in the development and implementation of public policy.

This first day will conclude with the Open Science Awards ceremony. As part of the second National Plan for Open Science, these national awards aim to recognize researchers, projects, and research teams committed to open science practices across three categories: data, software, and the dissemination of dissertation work.

Research Data for the Benefit of Health, the Environment, and Society

The discussions will continue on Tuesday, November 10, focusing on several major issues for research and society, with a roundtable titled “Doing Science Together: What Are the Rules of the Game for Citizen Data? ” that will examine the role of data generated through participatory science and research, as well as the conditions under which it is used and shared.

The issue of global health research data will also be on the agenda, with the participation of Pascal Demoly, a university professor and hospital practitioner at the University of Montpellier and the Montpellier University Hospital, and director of the ExposUM Institute, supported by theUM. The discussions will address the role of data in understanding the interactions between human, animal, and environmental health.

The afternoon will be devoted to environmental issues, featuring two presentations ondata sharing and observation infrastructure in response to the degradation of natural resources and desertification, as well as on the use of interdisciplinary knowledge for monitoring and managing forests in relation to climate and biodiversity.

Research Data: A Strategic Commitment to theUM

Hosting this National Conference is fully in line with the University of Montpellier’s strategy for the management, use, and promotion of research data, as well as its commitment to open science. The university supports its scientific communities at every stage of the data lifecycle, from data production to processing, sharing, and reuse. This ambition is supported in particular by the Montpellier Institute of Data Science (ISDM), which contributes to the development of approaches and expertise in data science, as well as by EcoDoR, the Montpellier data workshop led by theUM , and Data_UMontpellier, the institutional portal of theUM on the national Research Data Gouv repository. These complementary initiatives contribute to the more effective use and dissemination of scientific knowledge to address major societal challenges and the three ambitions of its I-SITE program of excellence: Feed, Care, and Protect.