PROJECTS

The reuse of digital research data promises great benefits for academia, the economy, and civil society. Hence, the demand for these data is steadily growing. Current legislation such as the German Datennutzungsgesetz (DNG) corresponds to this in determining the provision of research data for further use.

Since its position paper ENHANCING RESEARCH DATA MANAGEMENT: PERFORMANCE THROUGH DIVERSITY, the RfII has repeatedly embraced the idea of sharing research data. However, the council emphasizes the need to process these data in a purposeful manner and to make them accessible for reuse in other contexts: Only through data publications developed by highest academic standards can the potential of research data be fully realized and drive innovations also beyond academia. It has shown that the effort required to produce data publications is considerable, both at the individual researcher level and the level of research information infrastructures; general conditions for establishing data publications are often unclear; competencies and collaborations must be developed and expanded. To arrive at a sound assessment and to develop recommendations for this field of action, the RfII set up a working group in April 2022, focusing on questions of:

• recognizing and rewarding the production of data publications as scholarly achievement,
• the limitations of the current concept of “publication”, and
• consequences of the development emerging in this field for academia and the scientific publication system in general.

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Research processes in all scientific disciplines are nowadays characterised by the simultaneous handling of physical objects/artefacts and digital copies respectively digital data. This evokes new demands on the institutions, which are collecting and archiving objects and data for research. In its position paper THE DATA QUALITY CHALLENGE (2019), the RfII advocated to overcome institutionalised barriers as a prerequisite to enable the handling of analogue and digital data as complementary elements in research processes. The council also emphasised the importance of collections and archives as information infrastructures.

The RfII set up a working group in December 2021 with the aim of providing orientations in this field. The council plans a report with recommendations on the following subjects:

• the interconnected use of analogue and digital data and databases,
• readjustment of methods and logics of collecting,
• the understanding of the (future) role within collecting institutions, and
• on criteria for the selection or prioritisation of analogue collections for digitisation.

The RfII has already provided initial suggestions on the scientific, academic, and cultural reusability of collections in the discussion impulse SHAPING INVENTORY-RELATED RESEARCH: SUSTAINABLE INTERCONNECTIONS OF ‘ANALOGUE’ AND ‘DIGITAL’ (2021).

The re-use of personal or otherwise sensitive data for research underlies significant obstructions. Anonymisation could make these data scientifically un-useable or greatly reduce the scientific usability. Trusted Intermediaries may be a token to enable controlled access to even sensitive data at different interfaces in the data life cycle and under trustworthy conditions. This could increase the actual level of data sharing activities for the sake of innovation and prosperity in Europe and Germany. The German Federal Government’s Data Ethics Commission (“Datenethikkommission”) has recommended establishing regulations and quality standards for “data trustee systems”. To prepare a contribution to the emerging regulatory discourse, the RfII has set up the Data Trusteeship Project. The Council thus follows up on its recommendation on data protection and research data to develop participatory models for the secure management of personal data. A first white paper DESIGNING TRUSTED INTERMEDIARIES FOR DATA EXCHANGE was published in May 2020. In March 2021, the Council published on this topic also a Statement on the proposal for a Data Governance Act by the EU Commission, which was included in the consultation process for the European legislative process.

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The establishment of a national research data infrastructure (NFDI) requires the joint effort of all stakeholders in the scientific system, and therefore correspondingly intensive scientific policy and cross-party support. Further suggestions are required to develop the NFDI and integrate it into the German, European, and international scientific system. After clarifying the options for participation and financing, this also applies to questions regarding evaluation and quality assurance as well as integration of the numerous services already existing in the area of research data management. In the long-term legal adjustments will be required as well. In close coordination with the Joint Science Conference and in communicative exchanges with other key organisations in the scientific system, the RfII is working on answers to these questions in order to provide optimal support during the starting phase of the NFDI.

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New approaches to the digitisation of science and consolidation of information infrastructures are being created not only in Germany, but at the European level as well. The RfII monitors these developments, in particular the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), to provide science and scientific policy with advice in the upcoming stages. Furthermore, the RfII wishes to support the development and communication of German positions in European and international debates – taking into account the objectives and approaches of various German stakeholders.

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For science policy the increasing digitization calls for a strategic order and consolidation of investments in activities for data infrastructures. Comprehensive initiatives such as the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) for the German scientific landscape and the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) for the European supranational level are answers to this diagnosis. At the same time EOSC and NFDI are driving forward the internationalisation of science communication and information technology networking. In its first country report from 2017, the RfII analysed selected countries and their development paths in terms of research data policy. In view of current goals for Open Science on the one hand and ongoing international, but in particular European networking efforts on the other hand, the RfII has decided to take up further analyses by country and/or regions. The findings on actors, policies, organisational structures and governance models will serve as a basis for further statements and recommendations on the development of information infrastructures in Germany.

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