Platforms enable the sharing and discovery of publications, usually by providing a way to quickly explore Metadata. There is a very large and growing number of online platforms where data can be openly published. Sometimes the choice of platform is mandated by a cooperation or funding agreement, but just as often the people who prepare - or reuse - datasets make their own choices. At this time there is no single standard platform for research or education data publication, but there are portals and networks which may be closely linked to a stage of publication (e.g. CERN's Zenodo portal for scientific data), the theme (such as Europeana portal for art collections), format (GeoPlatform for geospatial datasets), or community (Wikidata, for Wikipedia contributors) of the dataset.

Open data is nothing without users. You need to be able to make sure that people can find the source material. ... The most important thing is to provide a neutral space which can overcome both inter-agency politics and future budget cycles. Jurisdictional borders, whether sectorial or geographical, can make cooperation difficult. However, there are significant benefits in joining forces. The easier it is for outsiders to discover data, the faster new and useful tools will be built. -- Open Data Handbook

◎ Brainstorm

1. Find platforms that provide are used by or recommended within your domain of expertise.
2. How does the usability of a platform affects the ease of finding and downloading data?
3. How could solutions such as apps or reports could be built "on top of" the services of this platform?
4. Look at publication guidance*, what do you think about the process of uploading open data?

* e.g. handbook.opendata.swiss

Architecture of the linked open data ecosystem for the performing arts. Beat Estermann 2019