Open data initiatives have resulted in greater availability of data, thereby realising ambitions such as improved efficiency and effectiveness of public services, increased transparency, accountability and citizen participation, and economic and social value creation. Open data research is a crucial component in creating and accelerating sustainable and innovative open data ecosystems. However, not all countries equally progress with regard to implementing open data policies and some countries are falling behind. The project Twinning Open Data Operational (TODO) examines which strategy can boost the open data ecosystem of countries that are just beginning to develop open data policies. We are developing and implementing an interdisciplinary multi-domain open data research approach to increase the maturity of the concept and impact of the open data ecosystem in Croatia and beyond. This paper lays down the strategy to arrive at a sustainable open data research ecosystem in open data beginners countries.@en