Source: RDM Team RWTH Aachen University
On the occastion of Research Data Day in North Rhine-Westphalia (TdF) on November 18, 2025, we would like to give you a preview of our “RDM Practice” and “RDM Services” arenas. These are worth venturing into on the action day for research data management (RDM). This article provides an overview of the contributions by NFDI4ING. Join us on TdF, engage in dialogue with the contributors and enjoy networking opportunities with other RDM enthusiasts!
Brief Description of the Initiative
Engineering sciences play a key role in developing solutions for the technical, environmental, and economic challenges imposed by the demands of our modern society. The associated research processes as well as the solutions themselves can only be sustainable if they are accompanied by a proper RDM that implements the FAIR data principles: data has to be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable.
NFDI4ING brings together the diverse engineering communities to work towards that goal. As the voice of engineering in the German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI), the consortium aims to develop, disseminate, standardise and provide methods and services to make engineering research data FAIR.
Description of the Contributions
NFDI4ING will be represented with three posters on November 18, 2025:
1 – Constructing Tomorrow With Data
The poster presents the consortium’s vision, mission, and organizational structure. It introduces NFDI4ING as the central point of contact for RDM in the engineering sciences, based on three strategic pillars:
- Data Literacy and Cultural change: Promoting education, training, and awareness of FAIR and open science.
- Governance and Consolidation: Establish community standards and consistent data curation.
- Services and Consulting: Providing tools, technologies, and support for best practices in RDM.
The poster presents six engineering archetypes, which are personas representing different research contexts and data workflows within the engineering sciences. It also presents the NFDI4Ing services, which were developed “by engineers for engineers.” The visual design illustrates NFDI4Ing’s position within the NFDI landscape and its interdisciplinary collaborations with the life sciences, humanities, and natural sciences.
2 – Research Data Management – A Practical Introduction
The Research Data Management Handbook offers a comprehensive and practical introduction to RDM. It serves as an openly accessible reference for researchers seeking practical support in RDM. The publication covers key aspects of RDM, including the creation of data management plans, legal issues in everyday research, and the use and handling of various open-source electronic lab notebooks (ELNs). Other chapters are devoted to topics such as data quality, data analysis, and suitable open-source software solutions.
The handbook is available in German and English and can be downloaded free of charge from Zenodo.
3 – Provenance Tracking Using Knowledge Graphs
Provenance tracking plays a central role in ensuring transparency and reproducibility in research. With the increasing prevalence of electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs), research institutions and groups are faced with a highly heterogeneous tool landscape. There is no universal solution, and interoperability between different ELNs—often even between instances of the same software—is frequently limited. The poster presents an approach to overcoming these challenges, strengthening collaboration, and facilitating the migration of data between different ELNs.
Reference to the Motto FAIR Data – FAIR Play: Just a Matter of Line-Up
The motto “FAIR Data – FAIR Play: Just a Matter of Line-Up” aptly reflects NFDI4ING’s philosophy. As in team sports, successful FDM requires coordinated structures, clear roles, and shared principles — in other words, the right setup. NFDI4ING implements this philosophy by aligning the community with the FAIR principles and promoting transparent, cooperative, and responsible data practices. Just as FAIR play ensures integrity in sports, FAIR data ensures openness and trust in science. Both are based on a culture in which preparation, teamwork, and shared standards determine long-term success.
More Information
Meet with NFDI4ING consortium representatives in person on November 18, 2025, in Aachen to discuss the services they offer.
Further information and links to afternoon events at other North Rhine-Westphalian locations can be found on the fdm.nrw events page.
If you have any questions about Research Data Day in North Rhine-Westphalia, please contact the organizing team. We look forward to hearing from you!
Responsible for the content of this article is Ute Trautwein-Bruns.
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