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.

Strategy

1. Improving the environment for collaboration

To develop NFDI into a cross–consortia infrastructure, we need the active participation of all members and consortia. Therefore, we are making the work within the sections more effective and the section structure more sustainable to achieve binding, shared results. For this purpose, we are establishing a
simple, transparent target and work organisation within the sections and connecting them better with the Scientific Senate.

2. Increase the use of consortia and basic services

We are creating an overarching service portfolio intending to strategically guide the further development of consortia and basic services and increase the utilisation of services in science.
Consortia can propose services. We define criteria that enable the Scientific Senate to decide on the inclusion and removal of services for the overarching service portfolio.

3. Enabling comprehensive implementation of the FAIR principles

We create a portfolio of metadata standards and thus lay the foundation for a comprehensive implementation of the FAIR principles in the consortia. For this purpose, we develop criteria for deciding which metadata standards are mandatory or optional to be applied in the NFDI. We negotiate related processes to optimise interoperability in the establishment, further development, and international coordination of standards. We ensure a cross–consortia metadata standard to improve the accessibility of research data in researchers’ day–to–day work.

4. Expanding international cooperation

International cooperation between association members and consortia is the indispensable basis for shaping international developments, especially in European data spaces. They are an important element for optimising connectivity and the development of structures. We are coordinating the development of a national node in the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), which ensures cooperation and concrete data exchange in the European Research Area. We are developing a “NFDI–EOSC Vision 2028” for the participation of NFDI in EOSC.

5. Strengthen competence in handling data

Increasing the data literacy of scientists is an important prerequisite for the effective use of services and metadata standards. Consortia and sections create professionally suitable, qualitative, and  attractive educational offers that are visible, open, and FAIR. NFDI complements this with educational  offers from third parties that meet the criteria mentioned here.

6. Ensuring sustainability trough operating models

Operating models and suitable governance structures are prerequisites for operating long–term and reliable services. We are drafting an “NFDIVision 2029” on this topic, which will serve as a basis for negotiations with stakeholders. The target vision provides guidance on the critical issues of financing, liability, and coordination.

Courtesy Translation of the, on November 7, 2024, by the Scientific Senate approved German Version