This case study is based on a presentation by Margreet Bloemers from ZonMw during the Finland edition of the ELIXIR Node Data Management Strategy (NDMS) module in 2023. The original training materials and shared notes are available through the ELITMa Finland workshop materials.
The presentation explored how funder requirements can influence the way research data management and FAIRification are organised. For Nodes developing a data management strategy, such external developments can provide an important reason to review existing support and consider where broader coordination is needed.
Why is this relevant?
Many Nodes already support researchers with DMP guidance, repositories, consultations, FAIR support and training. Funder requirements can influence which kinds of support researchers need and how these activities are organised.
The ZonMw example showed a shift beyond project-level data management towards greater attention to reusable data and FAIRification. This can require coordination around metadata standards, vocabularies, community agreements, FAIR expertise and support structures.
FAIRification is also community specific. Different research domains use different standards, terminology and approaches. Supporting FAIR data therefore often requires collaboration between researchers, domain experts, data stewards, infrastructures and funders.
What can Nodes learn from this?
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External requirements can be a reason to review your strategy. Changes in funder expectations may reveal new support needs or increase the importance of activities that are already developing within the Node.
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FAIRification requires coordination. Reusable data often depends on shared metadata approaches, community standards, expertise and guidance that cannot be organised project by project.
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FAIRification is community specific. Generic guidance is useful, but different research communities may need different standards, vocabularies and implementation approaches.
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FAIR support goes beyond compliance. FAIRification is a process rather than a single requirement to meet. This can affect training, support services, infrastructure choices and the expertise a Node needs access to.
What can you do?
Consider which external developments currently influence data management in your Node. These might include requirements from funders, national policies, institutional policies or community standards.
Ask:
- Which requirements are already affecting researchers in our Node?
- What support is already available?
- Where do new requirements create a need for coordination?
- Are there activities that would benefit from a more strategic Node-level approach?