Primary Research Data

In the future development of (e-)science storage, accessibility and quality assurance of digitally published research data are key issues. However, primary research data are not only produced in connection with large scale e-science but also as basis for any research and scientific communication and publishing.

In the future of academic and scholarly communication compound publications in the means of article and research data will play an ever increasing role. Research data have to be accessible both as open access and in the long term but also in different environments and tools.

Just as the open access movement has prompted libraries to engage in policy discussions about open and sustainable access to scientific journal literature, so too the open data movement will prompt libraries and other actors within the scientific information cycle to understand the implications and advantages of models that encourage unfettered access to data, where appropriate.

Comparative report on copyrights and usage rights for research data
Knowledge Exchange is currently preparing a comparative report on copyrights and usage rights for research data in the four partner countries (titled “Legal Arrangements for making as many Research Data openly available as possible”). The report is expected to suggest solutions for legal problems from a practical point of view, to describe realistic scenarios and give recommendations for regulations and policies.

Workshop “Sharing Data”
In September 2009 a workshop was helt in Berlin “Main Drivers for Successful Re-Use of Research Data". The workshop brought together typical use cases and will help define best practices for a sustainable and useful safeguarding of research data from a practical perspective.

Primary Research Data Working Group

A Primary Research Data Working Group with experts from the four partner organisations has been established and are considering future activites on this area.

For more information

Contact Christoph Kümmel, DFG, or the Knowledge Exchange office.