BiblioCon 2026: Coscine Presents Research Data Management in the Library Context
Source: Michèle Robrecht
From May 19 to 22, 2026, the library community gathered for this year’s BiblioCon at the Estrel Congress Center in Berlin. Under the motto “Analog Meets Algorithm,” the largest library conference in the German-speaking world focused on current developments in digitization, artificial intelligence, and modern information infrastructures. This blog post provides insights into Coscine’s participation and the discussions surrounding research data management, libraries, and digital infrastructures.
State Initiative for Research Data Management – fdm.nrw
Source: fdm.nrw
The state office of the State Initiative for Research Data Management (abbreviated as Landesinitiative fdm.nrw) serves as the central hub for strategic developments in research data management (RDM) in North Rhine-Westphalia. Since its founding in 2017, it has been connecting universities and stakeholders across the state, supporting the establishment and expansion of RDM structures and state-level RDM services, and providing information on current, cross-cutting developments in RDM. In addition, the Landesinitiative fdm.nrw supports the implementation of the DH.NRW State RDM Concept, which was published in 2024. With its information, networking, and exchange offerings, the fdm.nrw state initiative is aimed in particular at FDM staff at universities.
In this blog post, you will find an overview of the development of the fdm.nrw state initiative from its founding to the present, as well as its key areas of activity and its collaboration with RWTH.
NFDI-MatWerk/FAIRmat Spring School 2026 in Erlangen
Source: Dr. Ahmed Esam Ahmed Mansour
From April 13 to 16, 2026, the NFDI-MatWerk/FAIRmat Spring School 2026 took place at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) on the topic of “Research Data Management in Materials Science and Engineering.” A total of 17 participants, including advanced master’s students, doctoral candidates, postdocs, and early-career researchers, came together to engage intensively with FAIR research data practices and practical tools for everyday research.
RDM Network Meeting in April 2026: RDMO in Practice
Source: Own Illustration
The RDM Network Meeting on April 23, 2026, focused on the creation, organization, and use of data management plans (DMPs) in collaborative projects using the Research Data Management Organizer (RDMO).
The RDM Network Meeting is a monthly forum for data management officers, practitioners, and interested parties. It combines thematic presentations with open discussion on current practical issues and provides a space for networking and discussion.
Coscine Support Summit 2026 For Efficient Support Workflows
Source: Own Illustration
On April 22, 2026, the Coscine Support Summit took place at the IT Center of RWTH Aachen University. Around 15 participants from seven different universities came together to engage in an in-depth exchange on key support processes and to collaborate on their further development. The focus was particularly on the application for and review of storage resources.
Happy Birthday, Coscine!
Source: Own Illustration
In April 2026, Coscine will celebrate its third anniversary of regular operation! What began as a project during the pilot phase to make it easier for researchers to work with data has evolved over these three years into a vibrant, growing platform that has since become a central infrastructure in research data management. To mark this third anniversary, we look back on Coscine’s journey in this post.
Coscine at the FDM-Werkstatt 2026
Source: Own Illustration
From March 23 to 25, 2026, the FDM Workshop organized by fdm.nrw took place at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. Coscine was also represented with several program items and offered diverse insights into the practical use of the platform: In two hands-on workshops, researchers were able to learn about specific use cases and test them directly. In addition, together with git.nrw, a discussion panel explored the development of peer-to-peer structures in research data management.
Data Stewards – Agents of Change
Source: Own Illustration
On March 9 and 10, 2026, the one-and-a-half-day workshop “Agents of Change: Change Management for Data Stewards—Strengthening Roles, Shaping Change” took place. The workshop was specifically aimed at the FDM network at RWTH Aachen University and thus at all those who support researchers in research data management (FDM) and contribute to achieving the goals of FAIR research data and Open Science. The workshop provided an opportunity to reflect on one’s own role in FDM and to develop concrete strategies for change processes within one’s own work environment.
Your Feedback for the Future of Coscine
Source: Own Illustration
In 2026, we would like to invite you once again to participate in our Coscine user survey. From March 23 to April 30, 2026, you will have the opportunity to share your experiences with us and actively help shape the future of Coscine.
Policies That Bring People Together: Coscine Policies as a Guide for FAIR RDM!
Source: Own Illustration
In today’s digital research landscape, it is crucial to ensure that research data management and use are clear and transparent. For this reason, the Service Management Team, in cooperation with RDM staff from other universities, has drafted several policy documents related to Coscine and DataStorage.nrw over the past few months. In this blog post, we take a closer look at these documents and their significance for review processes in North Rhine-Westphalia and beyond.
