ELNs are an essential tool for implementing the FAIR principles across all research workflows, ensuring compliance with funder requirements.
Installation, hosting, and support are provided by the FAU CDI.
- Simplification of implementing FAIR principles
- Sovereignty over one’s own research data through open-source systems and storage at RRZE
- Data export in standard formats
- Data exchange with other institutions
- Migration to other ELN systems is possible
- API-based device integration
- Institutional login (SSO); no separate account management required
- System operation without the need for decentralized management
- Efficient work through standardization, search functions and filter options
- Traceability and verifiability of research results
- Collaboration possible with individual access rights
- Networked digital research environment
- Reusability of data, e.g. as part of analyses carried out by AI
- Preparation for publication and long-term archiving of research data
- Core functionality
- Analytics/reporting
- Exit strategy (data portability)
- Data storage location/residency
- Compatibility/interoperability
- Complexity and learning curve
- Configurability
- Costs
- Long‑term viability/sustainability
- Documentation and support
A comparison of several different aspects is available at decision-making criteria for an ELN and we are happy to advise you via email at cdi-eln-support@fau.de.
We help you identify and implement the ELN that best meets your needs.
Für FAU-Einrichtungen
Billing is a one-time fee per project, regardless of the number of users.
Further details can be found in our schedule of fees and services for FAU institutions.
ELNs are available for both FAU labs and external research groups and institutions.
ELN software currently offered by FAU CDI
Entry-level ELN. Offers simple unstructured data recording. Extended use for research data management (FAIR criteria) is easy to implement via structural elements that can be freely defined.
Structured data recording usually with specialist adaptations. Covers the entire data lifecycle from project initiation and data production and analysis up to the provision of scientific data for the public including long-term archiving. Complex start.
File-based structured recording of research data. High development speed by means of connection to the NFDI FAIRmat consortium.
Other ELN systems
Advantage: Optimized for lab documentation (web lab) and simple to use. Not much focus on reusability of data and research data management. Commercial software, data storage in the cloud, costs charged annually per account used.
Further information available via the documentation provided by the Faculty of Medicine.