Karlsruhe Institute Of Technology Hosts Conference On The Better Use Of Research Data
Research data forms the basis for insights and innovations. They play a key role in the progress of our society. The National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) aims to make better use of data treasures in the future. From September 12th to 14th, in cooperation with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), it is organizing the first Conference on Research Data Infrastructure (CoRDI) on the KIT South Campus. The research fields range from A for agricultural sciences to Z for cell biology.
Pandemics, climate change and road traffic have one thing in common: With high-quality, well-connected data, we can better understand them and make informed decisions about how we act. The National Research Data Infrastructure Association (NFDI) eV, based in Karlsruhe, has been committed to sustainable research data management since it was founded in 2020. Over 250 scientific organisations, universities and colleges, non-university research institutions, specialist societies and associations are now members. The future of data-driven research is thus shaped by a strong network.
The individual departments are involved in NFDI in consortia. Up to 80 institutions are networked in each of the 26 consortia and work together on internal and overarching topics. Services such as a platform for searching for human molecular biological data, so-called omics data (e.g. the “GHGA Metadata Catalog” with genome data), an electronic laboratory notebook (“Chemotion”) or a virtual assistant for clarifying legal issues are already available Use of data (“interactive Virtual Assistant: iVA”) emerged.
Topics such as data protection, comprehensive standards, shared infrastructures, further training or cooperation with industry are relevant for several or even all consortia. They are therefore advanced together in thematic sections. NFDI also develops basic services, for example for improved access management to data or better semantic networking based on a terminology service.
KIT involved in eleven NFDI consortia
KIT is involved in eleven of the 26 NFDI consortia. Most recently, in 2022, three new consortia with KIT participation were included in federal-state funding: NFDI4Energy for the energy system, NFDIxCS for storing complex data objects and Base4NFDI for basic services in the scientific data infrastructure. In addition, York Sure-Vetter, professor at the Institute for Applied Computer Science and Formal Description Methods at KIT, has been director of the NFDI since March 2020.
Research data – for innovations and social benefits
Under the title “Connecting Communities”, the CoRDI offers people from the association and beyond the chance to come together in person at a large event for the first time. The conference stands for more comprehensive insights through better use of research data, for innovations and the resulting social benefits. Over three days there will be scientific lectures, discussion formats, poster and market sessions as well as a public evening lecture. Around 600 scientists from all research fields as well as actors from the infrastructure sector and business are expected.