About us
Data as a common good for excellent research, organised by the scientific community in Germany. This is the vision of the German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI).
NFDI systematically indexes and networks valuable scientific and research data for the entire German scientific system and makes it available for sustainable and qualitative use. Until now, they have mostly been available on a decentralised, project-related or temporary basis.
Effective research data management strengthens the exchange between different disciplines and Germany as a centre of science and research. It enables the systematic handling of big data and the use of artificial intelligence. It also simplifies the responsible sharing of data between science and industry or at an international level.
NFDI is intended to create a permanent digital knowledge repository as an indispensable prerequisite for new research questions, findings and innovations.
Relevant data should be made available in accordance with the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable).
Contributors
Member organisations
Sections
Vision
Vision and mission
Vision
NFDI: Data as a common good for excellent research, organised by the scientific community in Germany.
Mission
Step by step, we are improving the possibilities for using data for science and society. Through our cooperation in the NFDI Association, an umbrella organisation for research data management in all branches of science is being created. In cooperation with national and international partners, we are creating the framework conditions for legally compliant, interoperable and sustainable data infrastructures that are easily accessible for researchers in their everyday work. We educate people, strengthen their competence in dealing with data and open up new career paths.
The association Nationale Forschungsdateninfrastruktur (NFDI) e.V.
The non-profit association Nationale Forschungsdateninfrastruktur (NFDI) e.V., based in Karlsruhe, was founded in October 2020 to coordinate the activities involved in setting up the NFDI. More than 300 institutions are now members of NFDI. Science organisations, universities and colleges, non-university research institutions, learned societies and associations are all involved. The federal government and all 16 federal states jointly support NFDI and are also the founding members of the association. The organisation of the association is governed by its statutes.
‘The purpose of the association is to promote science and research through a national research data infrastructure that establishes and develops comprehensive research data management in Germany and increases the efficiency of the entire German science system.’
In particular, organisations that are involved in an NFDI consortium can apply for membership of the association. Other legal entities that are expected to make a significant contribution to the realisation of the association’s purpose can also be accepted as members. Membership of the association is free of charge.
Organisational structure
The association’s board of directors consists of Prof Dr York Sure-Vetter and an administrative director (n.n.). The directorate is supported by the staff of the NFDI office in Karlsruhe.
In addition to the Directorate, the organisation has four other bodies: the Consortium Assembly, the Board of Trustees, the General Assembly and the Scientific Senate. Here [link to bodies] you can find out more about the function and composition of the bodies.
Parts of NFDI – How we work
The 26 consortia are shown in the outer circle. The five sections are highlighted in colour inside. Graphic: Base4NFDI
Consortia
The individual departments are involved in NFDI in consortia. Several institutions are networked in each of these consortia. All primary research areas (according to the German Research Foundation, DFG) are covered. The consortia were selected in a science-led process under the supervision of the DFG.
Sections
We work on common cross-cutting topics in so-called sections, which are organised as departments of the association. Different disciplines come together in the sections. This should guarantee the compatibility of solutions and the avoidance of parallel developments.
Base4NFDI
As a network of all consortia, Base4NFDI integrates and creates basic services as joint, interoperable solutions. Existing services are adapted or expanded so that they can also be used by researchers from other disciplines. A basic service includes
- Storage and computing services
- Software, processes and workflows
- Personnel support for various service desks
Each proposal for a basic service must result from a collaborative process within a section. The consortium meeting votes on the promotion of a basic service.
