KU Leuven, an institution for research and education with international appeal, is making it possible for researchers to keep their data safe for years while making it accessible to fellow researchers worldwide with Research Data Repository (RDR), a new platform for archiving and publishing research data. Research data is the precious raw material of many scientific publications. It often takes a lot of time and money to collect, structure, and analyze the data. If scientists share that data with each other more, the benefits are enormous.
KU Leuven has long opted to publish and share research data according to the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). With the new Research Data Repository (RDR) platform, the university is taking an important new step in that strategy. Researchers are given access to an archive where data (including documentation, methodological info, protocols, and associated code) is securely stored. Open where possible, closed where necessary: thus respecting privacy and the legal framework. The right metadata makes the data discoverable by fellow researchers around the world, who can refer to it in publications with a unique digital code.
The RDR platform is built on Dataverse, open-source software developed by Harvard University. The Netherlands built a national platform for research data with Dataverse, and MIT and John Hopkins University in the US use the software too. The application will be further developed in the coming years, for example with integrations to make the data findable on other research platforms as well.
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