Research Data Management as a Service is a joint project between Digital Research Services (DRS) and The Library, which aims to:
- Increase discoverability and accessibility of Flinders research data assets associated with Flinders world class research
- Improve the management of research data assets associated with Flinders research
- Review the current research data management policy framework at Flinders with advice and recommendations for change to the DVCR
- Capture institutional value from Flinders research data assets.
In quarter 3 a key deliverable of the project was the selection of an institutional research data management repository solution. The Strategic Procurement Committee (SPC) endorsed going to tender in July 2020 for a suitable solution with supplier responses received and assessed by the tender evaluation panel in August / September 2020. The evaluation panel recommended the Figshare for Institutions solution by Digital Sciences which was endorsed by the SPC in October 2020. It is a mature research data management repository solution that is currently being used by University of Adelaide, Monash University and other Australian universities as well as many more internationally. There is more information on the solution here https://knowledge.figshare.com/institutions if you are interested.
After successful contract negotiation Digital Research Services, Library and Digital Sciences will work in partnership with a pilot group in the Flinders research community to implement the solution into the Flinders environment. It is anticipated that implementation will start in November/December 2020 and continue through to March/April 2021. Implementation and rollout of the solution beyond the pilot group in 2021 will be dependent on additional resources being available.