Research Data
The publication of research data is considered increasingly important. The availability of datasets is not only important for researchers themselves, but is also an integral part of Good Research Practice. Only when research data are accessible and reusable can the resulting findings be verified and reproduced.
For research data to be published and made visible, it must be accessible via appropriate services with storage infrastructure. This infrastructure can be provided by databases, repositories, or research data centers.
In addition to consulting and training on research data management provided by the RDM∂KIT team, KIT offers two institutional repositories—KITopen and RADAR4KIT—through which KIT employees can make their research data accessible and reusable worldwide.
re3data offers a comprehensive overview of research data repositories (general, institutional, or discipline-specific).
KITopen
- Access with KIT account
- Publish your own research data quickly and easily
- Reuse of metadata via the KITopen media list (e.g., for KIT reporting)
- Publication of metadata on institutional websites via the KITopen publication lists
- Research data uploaded via KITopen is automatically transferred to RADAR4KIT and published through it
RADAR4KIT
- Access is available only through a collaborative workspace set up by the Team KITopen, which can be shared, for example, by a working group or research group
- Publish or simply store research data
- API/WebDAV support available for large datasets
- GitLab/GitHub import
- Initially, only research data published in RADAR4KIT can be imported into KITopen
- Research data from all disciplines and of all types can be published free of charge in KITopen and RADAR4KIT. The origin and use of the data must be described using relevant metadata.
- Researchers are responsible for the content themselves. Compliance with applicable data protection guidelines is governed by the Terms of Use for RADAR4KIT.
- The maximum file size set by the archive system is 600 GB per dataset. However, to facilitate reuse, it is advisable not to exceed a file size of 50 to 100 GB per dataset. Very large data sets can be split into multiple data sets and linked together. RADAR4KIT offers special options for uploading large or numerous data sets (see above)
- The research data are assigned a citable, persistent identifier (DOI) and are made available under an open-access license (optional in RADAR4KIT).
- Prior to publication, the data may undergo a review process.
- An embargo period may be agreed upon upon request; access to the research data is only possible after the embargo has expired.
- Published research data is, in principle, stored indefinitely. KIT guarantees actual retention for at least 25 years.
Regulations and Guidelines
The KIT FDM Policy was adopted by the KIT Senate and Executive Board in October 2016. In 2021, the Statutes for Safeguarding Good Research Practice at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) entered into force. The guidelines are primarily based on the guidelines for safeguarding good research practice of the German Research Foundation (DFG) as well as on recommendations from other organizations in the fields of science and higher education (see National Guidelines > Helmholtz Association > HGF Guidelines).
Research Data Management at KIT
Visit the Team RDM∂KIT website or send an email to: contact∂rdm.kit.edu
Publishing Research Data
Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., by email to: openscience∂bibliothek.kit.edu
or by phone with the contact persons listed below.
Researchers are supported with training, consulting, and specialized services related to RDM.
RDM@KITA comprehensive overview of general, institutional, and discipline-specific research data repositories.
re3data
Consulting and training on GWP and research ethics.
Office GWP