Commerce, Energy, NASA, Defense Information Managers Group
Stored: Commerce, Energy, NASA, Defense Information Managers Group
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Partnership |
| Top Organization | Not applicable |
| Creation Legislation | None |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | CENDI coordinates scientific info management across U.S. federal agencies, boosting collaboration to enhance access to research outputs. |
| Program Start | 1970s (formalized 1985) |
| Initial Funding | Not specified; supported by member agency budgets |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
Commerce, Energy, NASA, Defense Information Managers Group (CENDI) is a collaborative interagency program initially formed in the 1970s by information managers from the Departments of Commerce, Energy, NASA, and Defense to address shared challenges in managing scientific and technical information (STI). Now known simply as CENDI, it coordinates the management and dissemination of STI across these and other federal agencies, enhancing collaboration to improve access to and use of federal research and development outputs, with a notable expansion to include digital information strategies and open science initiatives. Its evolution reflects a shift from informal cooperation to a structured partnership that supports federal STI policy and practices.
Goals
- Facilitate coordination and standardization of STI management across federal agencies.
- Enhance public and governmental access to scientific research outputs, targeting improved data sharing and usability.
- Support federal policy development for STI, with metrics like the adoption of best practices by member agencies.
Organization
The Commerce, Energy, NASA, Defense Information Managers Group, operating as CENDI, is a partnership without a single top-level agency, drawing leadership and funding from its core member agencies: the Department of Commerce (via the National Technical Information Service), Department of Energy (via the Office of Scientific and Technical Information), NASA (via its Scientific and Technical Information Program), and the Department of Defense (via the Defense Technical Information Center). It is overseen by a rotating chair from one of these agencies, with operations supported by member contributions rather than a dedicated budget. Governance includes regular meetings of principals and working groups focusing on areas like metadata and digital preservation.
The leader of the program holds the title of CENDI Chair, currently rotating among agency representatives like Bonnie Carroll (past chair from OSTI) as of historical records, with no single fixed leader in 2025.
Partners
History
CENDI began in the 1970s as an informal collaboration among information managers from Commerce, Energy, NASA, and Defense to tackle the growing volume of STI from federal R&D. It formalized in 1985 with a memorandum of understanding, though it lacks specific legislative creation, evolving organically from agency needs. Key milestones include expanding membership to include the National Library of Medicine and National Agricultural Library, and adapting to digital technologies in the 1990s and 2000s. Today, it focuses on open science and data sharing, with plans to further integrate AI and machine learning into STI management.
Funding
The program’s initial funding in the 1970s was not separately specified, relying on the existing budgets of its founding agencies. Funding began with its informal inception and continues through annual contributions from member agencies, with no fixed end date. Additional resources have been pooled for specific projects, such as workshops or publications, sustained by in-kind support rather than a centralized appropriation.
Implementation
CENDI operates through working groups and regular meetings, implementing strategies like metadata standardization, digital repository development, and training for STI managers. Its methods include joint publications, such as the "CENDI Persistent Identification Primer," and hosting workshops to share best practices. There is no defined end date, with efforts ongoing to adapt to technological and policy shifts in federal STI management.
Related
External links
Social media
- None identified