CLARIAH-AT is the consortium of Austrian universities and research institutions that coordinates and drives Austrian activities in the European ESFRI research infrastructures CLARIN (Common Language Resources and Technology Infrastructure) and DARIAH (Digital Research Infrastructure for the Arts and Humanities).
The consortium brings together Austrian institutions with relevant expertise in research, development and teaching in the field of Digital Humanities as well as in the establishment and sustainable operation of research (data) infrastructures, which also play an active role in the Austrian development of Digital Humanities and the establishment and expansion of technical and social infrastructures for the humanities in general.
Austrian researchers were involved in both research infrastructures during the preparatory phase and have made substantial contributions to them at both the local and European levels. Thanks to the support of the then Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy, Austria was able to become a founding member of both consortia (CLARIN 2012, DARIAH 2014). In 2014, the Austrian Academy of Sciences was entrusted by the Federal Ministry of Science and Research with the coordination of local activities. In June 2019, the core group of CLARIAH-AT reconstituted itself by signing a consortium agreement between the participating institutions, which was extended indefinitely in March 2021.
CLARIAH-AT Advisory Board
In addition to networking and collaboration with Austrian institutions and colleagues from the fields of digital humanities, memory institutions and research data management, we strive to involve representatives of the pertinent ministries and research funding bodies directly in both our communication and strategy.
The advisory board provides an opportunity for direct communication between the consortium and DH community, and the ministries and funding bodies, in order to define and implement strategies and efficient measures for the sustainable further development of Digital Humanities in Austria.
Ursula Brustmann, BMBWF
Max Arends, FFG
Manfred Gruber, BKA
Toma Tasovac, DARIAH-EU
Martin Ure, BMKÖS
Andreas Witt, CLARIN-ERIC
National Digital Humanities Strategy
In 2015, the group was commissioned by the responsible ministry to develop a strategic document, the DH-Austria Strategy, which served as a roadmap for the sustainable establishment of the Digital Humanities in Austria.
The new strategy paper Digital Humanities Austria Strategy 2021+ (EN) is based on preliminary work by the consortium and a consultation of the Austrian professional community in the field of Digital Humanities. It defines four guidelines for the future development of Digital Humanities in Austria and serves as a work program for the working groups of the same name:
- Research infrastructures and networks
- Research data and repositories
- Methods, services and tools
- Education, training and knowledge transfer
In the current work period 2021-23, the four working groups are carrying out a diverse program of activities to advance and support the further development of Digital Humanities in Austria. In addition to networking events and workshops, the CLARIAH-AT consortium is particularly committed to promoting DH projects and young scholars.
Activities
The consortium members are actively involved in numerous bodies at the European level. Particularly noteworthy are:
DARIAH Working Groups
- ELDAH (Ethics and Legality in the Digital Arts and Humanities)
- DH Course Registry
- dariahTeach
- Thesaurus Maintenance
CLARIN
- User Involvement Group
- CLIC – CLARIN Legal Issues Committee
- Standards Committee
- SCCTC – Standing Committee of CLARIN Technical Centres
CLARIN-AT Centres
Currently, there are four CLARIN Centres operating in Austria:
- CLARIN K Centres:
Earlier Activities
Part of earlier CLARIAH-AT activities were the three go!digital calls in 2014, 2016 and 2018, which were competitively advertised and organized by the Austrian Academy of Sciences with funding from the Austrian National Foundation for Research, Technology and Development. The 30 projects selected by international experts promote the development and use of innovative digital methods in Austrian humanities research. In addition, 20 CLARIAH-AT funded projects are in the implementation phase (or have recently been completed).
