What is a Reproducibility Network?
Reproducibility Networks (RNs) exist to bring together different communities across their research ecosystem, with the aim of improving the rigour, transparency and reproducibility of research, in the context of academic freedom. These improvements often require collaboration and coordination across the research landscape, which is the underlying purpose of RNs. RNs are typically national but may be regional.
The values of RNs are therefore:
- fostering and supporting collaboration and coordination as ways of working across the research system
- promoting rigour, transparency and reproducibility as core attributes of research
- embedding academic freedom as a foundational principle
RNs are typically organised on a national or, occasionally, regional level to follow the structure of the existing academic research ecosystems. A list of current national RNs is available on this website.
How are RNs structured?
RNs are made up of different groups, allowing for collaboration and cooperation within and between them. These groups include both grassroots research communities and established, institutional, and national bodies. Examples may include:
- Local Networks (Nodes): Informal, self-organising groups of researchers and professional staff that form a Community of Practice within their institution.
- Institutional Members: Institutions that have formally joined their national RN, typically by identifying a senior role to work at the senior management level within their institution.
- Stakeholders: Funders, publishers, learned societies, and other sectoral organisations within the research ecosystem.
The original model was developed by the first RN — the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) — but has been adapted to fit the local context of each country or region, given that these can differ considerably. RNs differ in financial support, legal status, and priorities, and have developed different organisational models. The basic model is intended to be flexible.
Where RNs produce materials such as briefing documents or training materials, they typically make these openly available and license them in ways that enable reuse, including translation, without the need to seek permission.
What is the Global Federation of Reproducibility Networks?
The Global Federation of Reproducibility Networks (GFRN) is a mechanism that enables and supports collaboration and coordination between the individual RNs. Its aims are to:
- strengthen and advance the shared values of RNs and therefore protect the reputation of the RNs as trusted leaders in research quality.
- promote collaboration and coordination between the RNs;
- promote external engagement and influence beyond the RNs.
The members of the GFRN are the RNs as networks, not individual people.
What does the GFRN do?
The members of the GFRN work together in the following ways:
Maintaining the identity of the RNs
- Maintaining contact details and communication channels for RN representatives
- Holding regular online meetings (at least every two months) to share news, developments, and opportunities
- Organising in-person meetings as needs and opportunities arise (aiming for annually)
- Supporting and coordinating engagement with funding opportunities
- Enabling RNs to share and reuse materials, including training materials, policies, and statements
- Maintaining a list of speakers on particular topics
Promoting external engagement and influence
- Defining a way for international stakeholders to engage with the RNs collectively
- Influencing international stakeholders and other bodies to adopt policies and practices that support the values and purpose of the GFRN
History
The growth of Reproducibility Networks began with the founding of the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) in 2019. Since then, national and regional RNs have been established across all continents, prompted by bottom-up grassroots initiatives from groups of researchers and related staff.
As the number of RNs grew, so did the need for coordination. Until 2025, the UKRN served in an informal coordinating capacity. In 2025, the GFRN was formally established as an alliance of national and regional Reproducibility Networks, with a Terms of Reference drafted by an international Sustainability Working Group.
In 2026, the Swiss Reproducibility Network (SwissRN) took over as the host of the first formal GFRN Coordinating Office, marking the beginning of a rotating coordination model.
Related Initiatives
The GFRN and its member RNs engage with a range of international initiatives and organisations in the Open Science space, including:
- iRISE - Improving Reproducibility in Science (EU-funded)
- OSIRIS - Open Science to Increase Reproducibility in Science (EU-funded)
- TIER2 - Enhancing Trust, Integrity and Efficiency in Research through next-level Reproducibility (EU-funded)
- CoARA - Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment
- DORA - San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment
- Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information
- EOSC - European Open Science Cloud
- UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science
- INOSC - International Network of Open Science and Scholarship Communities