5. The digital revolution

Like much else, in 2020 global research and data infrastructure was put to the test during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quantum computer

The urgent need for international scientific collaboration, and for rapid access to scientific data and information, available to policy-makers and citizens alike, was facilitated by the tools of the digital revolution.

The ability to combine, visualize and use data from many sources has far-reaching consequences for science and society reaching beyond the COVID-19 crisis. Throughout 2020 the ISC worked to build the infrastructure required to strengthen use of digital technologies across the science community and across the world.


In this section:

Open science

Openness is at the heart of the scientific endeavour and informs all of the ISC’s work.

Read more

Making Data Work for Cross-Domain Grand Challenges

Building knowledge on the complex global challenges facing the world today demands interdisciplinary collaboration enabled by data integration policies and practices across scientific fields and disciplines.

Read more

an graphic image of a phone and connections

A Digital Planet for Sustainability

Digital solutions have the potential to create multiple opportunities to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and to enhance quality of life for everyone, within the ecological limits of our planet.

Read more


Image: Pierre Metivier via Flickr.

Next up: Open science 

Share:

Skip to content