Kategorie: ‘Allgemein’
ELN@RWTH: eLabFTW on Its Way to Becoming a Standard
Source: Own illustration
Research data is the foundation of modern science, and its careful documentation is crucial for traceability and reusability. However, traditional paper lab books have their limitations. Electronic lab notebooks (ELNs) offer a digital alternative that simplifies work processes and makes research data available in the long term.
In 2024, RWTH Aachen University launched a pilot phase with the open-source system eLabFTW. Now an important milestone is approaching: on October 1, 2025, the ELN@RWTH service will officially go into regular operation – a reason to celebrate!
Valuable Insights and Outlooks: Meeting of the RDM Network and CoRDI 2025
Source: RDM Team RWTH Aachen University
The last Meeting of the RDM Network took place on September 4, 2025. The RDM team from RWTH Aachen University, data stewards, and meeting participants shared valuable insights and exciting impressions from the Conference on Research Data Infrastructure (CoRDI). Additionally, we would like to inform you about another RDM network meeting. The “Data Stewards Practice Special” is scheduled for September 25, 2025. All RDM members are cordially invited to participate in this exchange and report on their experiences and projects.
Next Steps for the NFDI: Focus On Sustainability, Governance and Innovation
Source: nfdi.de
As part of its structural evaluation of the NFDI (National Research Data Infrastructure), the German Science and Humanities Council (Wissenschaftsrat) emphasized the urgent need for a consolidation phase to ensure the infrastructure’s sustainable development. The council is focusing on three main areas in particular: financing and basic services, governance structures, and an accompanying innovation program.
Coffee Break With Added Value: Review of the DKZ.2R Data Café at RWTH Aachen University
Source: Lukas Bossert
What do cold coffee, scientific data and a university library have in common? At first glance, perhaps not much, but it was precisely this combination that sparked lively discussion and fresh ideas on research data management (RDM) and data literacy in general on June 24, 2025.
GWK Decides to Continue Funding All Nine NFDI Consortia
Source: Freepik
On July 4, 2025, the Joint Science Conference (GWK) decided to continue funding all nine NFDI consortia from the first funding round. They will receive follow-up funding and will start the second project phase in October 2025. The federal and state governments will jointly provide around 92 million euros for this purpose until the end of 2028.
This decision is excellent news for the consortia involved and for everyone involved in research data management (RDM). The NFDI plays a central role in establishing a sustainable, interdisciplinary data infrastructure in Germany.
Fellowship of the Data Conference in Jena
Source: Ute Trautwein-Bruns (UB RWTH Aachen)
In April 2025, the RDM team from RWTH Aachen University traveled to Jena, Thuringia, to actively participate in the international community meeting for research data management trainers and data stewards. We have summarized our impressions and insights for you in a short report.
Europe’s Answer to Search Engine Monopolies: Pilot Phase of the European Open Web Index
Source: Freepik
On June 6, 2025, the OpenWebSearch.eu consortium, an alliance of 14 renowned European research institutions, including CERN, launched the pilot phase of the European Open Web Index (OWI). The aim is to strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty by creating open and balanced access to web data that is based on European values, data protection standards, and legislation. This should also provide new impetus for research data management (RDM).
DKZ.2R Data Café: Your Data – Our Expertise
Source: DKZ.2R
On Tuesday June 24, 2025, the Data Café of the Rhine-Ruhr Center for Scientific Data Competence (DKZ.2R) will be held at the RWTH Aachen University Library. From 11am to 3 pm, researchers can discuss their research data questions with experts in Machine Learning, High-Performance Computing, and Research Data Management in a relaxed, free-of-charge atmosphere over coffee.
Storage Change in Coscine – DataStorage.nrw
Source: Own illustration
With DataStorage.nrw, a new storage system will soon be available behind Coscine, replacing the previous Research Data Storage (RDS). This step does not only bring technical improvements but is also a strategic further development as part of the implementation of fdm.nrw’s RDM state concept.
Sustainable Use of Research Data: Funding From the VolkswagenStiftung
Source: Freepik
As part of its open science policy, the German VolkswagenStiftung supports the reuse of open research data and provides funding for this purpose in the context of “data reuse.”
