Research Data Storage Infrastructure for North Rhine-Westphalia (FDSI.nrw)

The DH.NRW research data storage infrastructure (FDSI.nrw) consists of DataStorage.nrw and DataArchive.nrw. Both the governance and management concept are described below.


FDSI.nrw Governance

The governance of the DH.NRW research data storage infrastructure is divided into two areas: operations and management.

Operational Governance

Operational governance is overseen by the Operating Committee, which consists of all consortium institutions with the objective of organizing joint operations. The committee is established to ensure harmonious operation of the storage systems and to continue the successful cooperation achieved during procurement and implementation. The Operating Committee is also responsible for developing the operational concept for the DH.NRW research data storage infrastructure.

The Executive Board, a component of the Operating Committee, makes strategic operational decisions such as technical requirements for connecting new services. The Executive Board comprises one representative from each participating institution. It elects a spokesperson every four months who represents the committee’s decisions externally and communicates with external stakeholders. In this role, the spokesperson attends Advisory Board meetings.

The Technical Working Group is another part of the Operating Committee, overseeing day-to-day operations across all locations of the research data storage infrastructure. This group also has a spokesperson who regularly reports to the Executive Board.
Operational governance is legally defined through a cooperation and funding transfer agreement, as well as the Operating Committee’s bylaws. Additionally, data protection aspects are outlined in a joint responsibility agreement.

Operational Concept

The Operating Committee is responsible for developing the operational concept for the DH.NRW research data storage infrastructure. However, this document is not publicly available due to safety considerations.

Management Governance

Management of the DH.NRW research data storage infrastructure is led and coordinated by Service Management at RWTH Aachen University. Management governance is integrated into Coscine.nrw’s organizational structure and includes an Advisory Board composed of representatives from DH.NRW user groups. The Advisory Board members are confirmed by user representatives who meet biannually. Each role in the Advisory Board must be filled by a representative from different universities within DH.NRW:

  • Research staff
  • Technical/administrative staff representative
  • Academic staff representative
  • Chief Information Officer (CIO) or Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
  • fdm.nrw leadership
  • DH.NRW project office
  • University leadership
  • Data protection officer
  • IT security & legal affairs
  • Student representative

Each role may only be represented by one individual per term, which lasts two years. The Advisory Board’s responsibilities include reviewing performance reports (including key performance indicators), contributing to risk management to identify potential risks and opportunities early, and advising on prioritizing future developments.

Management Concept

The management concept for the DH.NRW Research Data Storage Infrastructure (FDSI.nrw) governs the allocation of FDSI.nrw storage space by FDM state basic services. The FDSI.nrw includes DataStorage.nrw, a redundant S3 object storage system, and DataArchive.nrw for long-term archival storage. This management concept primarily targets individuals operating FDM state basic services who wish to provide storage space within the FDSI.nrw.

The concept outlines the framework conditions for storage allocation by state basic services, including science-driven allocation procedures for assigning storage capacity. It clearly defines possible storage durations, as well as supported research initiatives, which encompass both research projects and data pools. The concept also addresses procedures for rescuing valuable datasets and enabling cooperative use among different institutions.

Another key aspect is compliance with FAIR principles to ensure data reusability. Additionally, FDM state basic services must publish a Selection Policy outlining their selection criteria and regularly submit transparent usage reports.
Finally, the concept specifies accreditation criteria for FDM state basic services to ensure quality and sustainability.

Reference: Lang, I., Claus, F., Rehwald, S., Cyra-Wolf, M. A., Jansen, K., Eifert, T., & Politze, M. (2026). Management Concept for the Research Data Storage Infrastructure of DH.NRW (FDSI.nrw). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18183047