FAUDataCloud – IT Services for Research Data

Overview

The FAUDataCloud bundles a range of IT services for research data management, covering all stages of the data lifecycle.

Participating institutions

FAU’s Competence Center for Research Data and Information (FAU CDI) and the Regional Computing Center Erlangen (RRZE) support research data management (RDM) at FAU within the FAUDataCloud initiative. Erlangen University Hospital will be involved via the Medical Center for Information and Communication Technology (MIK). Some services are also operated by the University Library.

All FAU and UKEr researchers can contact the general RDM support address for a single-point (one-stop) service: forschungsdaten@fau.de.

Concept

  • Centralized storage and standard applications (e.g., databases) managed by RRZE/MIK; existing decentralized systems will be migrated to central services for better efficiency and security.
  • Higher FAUDataCloud services build on this foundation and are coordinated by FAU CDI, the University Library, RRZE, and MIK.
  • Basic FDM provisioning is free for FAU units.
  • Extra FDM needs are evaluated and approved by FAU CDI, in coordination with RRZE/MIK.
  • For research projects, special FDM needs are considered in the proposal phase; FAU CDI can advise and connect you with qualified staff.
  • Resource distribution within the organization remains decentralized (by department, chair, project).

IT-Services for research data

Services available

  • Hot data storage space (actively used in research, e.g., during project phases), implemented as a network drive (see below).
  • Cold data storage space (completed datasets, with or without publication): FAUDataCloud repository (via FAU CRIS).
  • Higher-level services: Electronic Lab Notebooks and semantic research environment (WissKI).
  • Version control: gitlab.rrze.fau.de for FAU internal use (up to five external logins maximum), gitos.rrze.fau.de with DFN-AAI integration (unrestricted external use).
  • Database system: PostgreSQL.

Planned Services

  • End of 2026 — JupyterHub for teaching (excluding HPC integration)
  • Autumn 2026 — PID service (persistent identifiers, complementing DOIs)

Self-service tools

Within the FAU basic provision, every FAU research group (department chair or independent professorship; all with a cost center) is entitled to the following IT resources free of charge:

  • 2 TB of archival storage in the FAUDataCloud repository (cumulative). For each dataset, CRIS metadata must be completed in accordance with the FAIR principles (DataCite schema), thereby fulfilling the FAU data declaration.
  • Project storage for research groups (network drive; unrestricted academic use): Applications and rights/role management will be handled in the IDM portal in the future, currently via wap-speicher@fau.de. Allocation: 250 GB per person.
  • 50 GB PostgreSQL database storage; applications and rights management will be handled via the IDM Portal.
  • General services include GitLab and a Matrix-based chat service.
  • Higher-level/specific services (ELN, WissKI, JupyterLab, etc.) are typically provided unconfigured; FAU CDI supports setup. Billing is described in the cost and service schedule.

Self-service is partially available and still under construction

Some of these services can already be used via self-service. For all other options, please email forschungsdaten@fau.de to inquire.

Extended baseline provision

Needs beyond the baseline provision can be requested through the FAU CDI. This also applies to projects/datasets that cannot be assigned to a cost center (e.g., student projects). Needs are reviewed and prioritized. Criteria:

  • Academic justification and data management/curation strategy (e.g., via a Data Management Plan, DMP)
  • Total resource requirements; why could this not be requested within the project?
  • Is there an endorsement from the department?
  • Intended licensing of the dataset (free/open is preferred)
  • Data declaration (what happens if data become orphaned, e.g., if the owner leaves FAU) – ideally a Data Governance Declaration
  • Adequacy/quality of metadata

Note: The rules for this are developed by FAU CDI in coordination with RRZE/MIK and follow the cost and service schedule.

Needs beyond the basic provision can be requested from the FAU CDI. This also applies to projects/research data that cannot be assigned to a cost center (e.g., student projects). The needs are reviewed and prioritized. The criteria are:

  • Academic justification and data curation strategy (e.g., via a Data Management Plan (DMP)),
  • Total resource requirements; why this could not be requested within the project,
  • Is there an endorsement from the department,
  • Intended licensing of the dataset (free/open is preferable),
  • Data testament (what happens to the data if the owner leaves FAU),
  • Adequacy/quality of the metadata.

The application for extended basic provision should be detailed enough to allow these criteria to be assessed.

It must also include all administrative metadata (for automated provisioning; imprint, etc.; FAU data testament).

The extended free basic provision is also contingent on the centrally available resources.

Evaluation

The FAU CDI will, as needed, establish a commission of CDI members (ensuring subject-area coverage) to evaluate the extended basic provision applications, and will process the applications on a monthly basis.

RDM in Large-scale projects

Large-scale projects such as GRK/SFB must be planned, negotiated, and funded separately among the applicant, the Chancellor, the CIO, and the FAU CDI (represented by the managing director or spokesperson).

The criteria are the same as for the extended project provision (above), with an approved SFB/GRK automatically fulfilling part of the aforementioned criteria.