Coscine is a generic platform for research data designed to manage data in accordance with the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). With Coscine, we enable researchers to store or link their data during the active project phase, annotate it with rich metadata, reference it with persistent identifiers (PIDs), share it with project partners, and securely archive it for up to ten years after the project ends.
We promote high-quality research by supporting the discovery of and access to data through the implementation of the FAIR Digital Object concept. With a central search index, Coscine enables the discovery and reuse of data. By automatically assigning administrative, bibliographic, and discipline-specific metadata along with PIDs, Coscine facilitates subsequent interpretation, long-term archiving, and ultimately publication in appropriate repositories. Through our low-barrier login options, we enable global collaboration on research projects.
All of the Coscine features mentioned are accessible via both our web interface and our API. We also provide more complex research data management features through our API, which we are continuously making available via our web interface as well. Coscine’s full range of features is constantly expanded in close collaboration with the Coscine community, based on peer-reviewed third-party funded projects and the results of our annual user survey, with a focus on meeting user needs.
Our goal is also to provide comprehensive service management that supports the Coscine community and offers user organizations the best possible support for their researchers when using Coscine.
Background
The Coscine platform is developed, hosted, and managed at the IT Center of RWTH Aachen University. Universities and organizations can use Coscine based on our offering. As part of the Coscine.nrw project, it was established as a permanent service, making Coscine available to all universities in the DH.NRW network that are funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (MKW). With its scope of services and support structure, Coscine contributes to DH.NRW’s overall mission in the area of research data management by creating an infrastructure in which the proper handling of research data according to FAIR principles can be practiced easily, securely, and beneficially for researchers 1. This mission is also reflected in the associated “DH.NRW Digital Ecosystem – State Concept for Research Data Management” 2. Furthermore, Coscine is being developed as part of the mission of the NFDI consortia, which are guided by the goals of establishing and further developing comprehensive research data management and increasing the efficiency of the entire scientific system 3.
