Starting point/origin

The FAIR Data Austria project supports the sustainable implementation of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) in Austria by developing infrastructure that encourages good research data management practices, as well as by providing the required training and offering support services. The project promotes collaboration between Austrian universities, helping them to create coherent and robust services for research data. In this way, Austrian universities secure their position in the international research landscape.

In order to manage research data efficiently and in accordance with FAIR principles ("Findable", "Accessible", "Interoperable", and "Reusable"), support must be provided over the entire research data lifecycle, from generating the data to archiving it, along with expertise and related tools. To ensure optimal integration in everyday research, stakeholders must be encouraged to take on proactive roles. The transformation process followed to apply digital research data management at higher education institutions must be clearly structured; therefore, this process is supported by the creation of applicable measures for change management.

Target groups

Researchers, data stewards, research support staff, infrastructure experts, directors at universities, research institutions, and funding agencies

Aims of the project

The project aims to promote the transfer of knowledge about research data management (RDM) between Austrian higher education institutions to co-create conditions that will shape the future of data-driven science.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF OBJECTIVES:

• Establish and develop next-generation repositories for research data, code, and databases
• Build and develop tools that enable the efficient development of data management plans (machine-actionable DMPs (maDMPs))
• Increase the pool of data stewards who then develop the skills and expertise needed for proper FDM
• Develop FDM training and support services
• Establish a FAIR Office Austria 

Work packages

WP1: Project management and knowledge transfer
        Led by: TU Graz

WP2: Development and application of research data management tools
        Led by: TU Wien
        Involved partners: TU Graz

WP3: Next-generation repositories
        Led by: TU Graz
        Involved partners: TU Wien, University of Vienna

WP4: Deployment and rollout of the repository systems
        Led by: TU Graz and TU Wien
        Involved partners: University of Vienna, Med Uni Graz, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, University of Innsbruck

WP5: Process development, research data management training and support
        Led by: University of Vienna
        Involved partners: TU Graz, TU Wien, Med Uni Graz, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, University of Innsbruck

Status of the cooperation with the project partners

• Development and implementation of maDMPs: TU Wien and TU Graz
• Next-generation repositories for research data: TU Graz, TU Wien, University of Innsbruck
• Repositories for databases: University of Vienna and TU Wien
• Deployment and rollout of repository systems: TU Graz, TU Wien, University of Vienna, Med Uni Graz, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, University of Innsbruck
• Data stewardship, RDM training and support: University of Vienna, TU Graz, TU Wien, Med Uni Graz, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, University of Innsbruck, University of Graz, University of Linz, Natural History Museum Vienna

Potential synergies with other universities

• Knowledge transfer regarding good research data management practices
• Training and use of open source software solutions for repositories and machine-actionable data management plans (maDMPs)
• Collaboration of Austrian research institutions to optimise resource use