1. News & Updates from the CDF

Featured topic: New update of the Policy on Handling of Research Data

The University of Freiburg has updated its Policy on the Handling of Research Data, because it reached the end of the review cycle.

The following changes were made:

• A definition of what falls under research data has been added.
• The CDF is now named as the central unit responsible for institutional research data management.
• Research data management should be part of the scientific education process at the University of Freiburg.

Researchers are encouraged to explore the updated policy and discover how it can support better, more visible, and more connected research. The binding version (German) can be found as a PDF in Freidok plus

How-to Guidance for Policy implementation

The CDF has released a practical companion guide to the RDM Policy. This guide breaks down the policy in more detail, and includes practical tips and examples. By bridging the gap between policy and practice, the CDF aims to lower barriers to compliance and empower researchers to work confidently and efficiently.

Check out the new Practical Policies How-to Guide now!

CDF @ EMBL

EMBL wants to strengthen data-stewardship as a crucial part of an integrated research data management. The CDF was invited to exchange ideas and discuss concepts with the different EMBL sites, other universities, NFDI members, and industry.

Read the full news post

2. Services & Offerings

New on CDF Knowledge Base

How-to implementation guide on Policy of Handling of Research Data Do you want to know what the policy means for your daily work? Read here

Helpdesk & Open Hour

Got a question about data or Research Data Management? Join the CDF Open Hour! Every Friday from 11:00 to 11:30, our team is available online to answer your questions and point you to the right resources. Drop in anytime - no registration needed. Read more here

3. RDM Tips & Tricks

Good research data management can make your daily work smoother, more efficient, and far more future-proof. In each newsletter, we share a few practical tips & tricks to help you stay organized.

The 3-2-1-rule for data storage

The 3-2-1 backup rule is a simple formula for keeping your data safe:

• 3 total copies of your data
• 2 different types of storage media
• 1 copy stored in a different geographic location

This approach eliminates single points of failure, and provides resilience against data loss, ensuring that if something goes wrong, you still have clean, accessible copies.

Common risks for data loss include

• hardware failures
• damages because of environmental factors
• criminal attacks
• human error or software failures

Think of it like having multiple house keys: one on your own keyring, one in a drawer at home, and one at a friend or family member’s house. Even if you lose two, you are still not locked out.

The following graphic shows one possible architecture feasible for every researcher.

Other implementations of the 3-2-1 rule will work too. If you have one approach and need feedback, please do not hesitate to contact the CDF.

On the knowledge base we will collect further examples.

4. Training & Workshops on Data Analysis and RDM

bwFDM Train-the-Trainer Workshop

• When: November 11–12, 2026, 9:00 - 16:30 each day
• Where: Online

Registration opens in mid-September. Read more here

Customized Workshops

The CDF offers tailored workshops on data organization and research data management for collaborative research initiatives such as CRCs or Excellence Clusters. Whether you need an introduction for new team members or a deep dive into project-specific workflows, we’re happy to design a format that fits your needs. Get in touch to learn more!

5. News from NFDI

NFDI Transition to Permanent Status – DFG Executive Board’s Position

Germany’s Joint Science Conference (GWK) is currently preparing a new federal-state agreement to permanently establish the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI). A decision is expected in summer 2026. The DFG Executive Board has published a position paper outlining what this transition must look like to succeed.

Key takeaways:

• Preserve the community-driven character: Even under a more centralized governance model, the NFDI must remain science-led and responsive to discipline-specific needs. Existing consortia have been central to NFDI’s success and must be carefully integrated into the new structure.
• National anchor with international reach: The NFDI should serve as Germany’s clear national hub for research data infrastructure — both domestically and within the European and international research landscape.
• External quality assurance is non-negotiable: Transparent, measurable evaluation mechanisms — qualitative and quantitative — must be put in place, including the possibility of actors leaving the NFDI if quality benchmarks are not met.
• Balancing stability and innovation: Reliable base services build the trust researchers need. A DFG-managed innovation program should drive new developments, but as a complement to — not a replacement for — the continuous science-led evolution within the NFDI association.
• Adequate funding required: The DFG estimates that an annual budget of at least €115 million is needed to sustainably fund infrastructure operations, services, and innovation.
• Legal clarity needed: A new federal-state agreement from 2029 onwards must resolve outstanding legal questions about the future organizational structure of the NFDI.

Read the full statement.

NFDI@UFR: 3rd Exchange Among NFDI Consortia at the University of Freiburg

UFR representatives from several consortia of the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) recently met at the University of Freiburg for an exchange on current developments, services, and opportunities for future collaboration. The NFDI comprises 26 domain-specific consortia as well as the cross-consortium association Base4NFDI. Together, the consortia represent a broad spectrum of academic disciplines — ranging from the cultural, social, and humanities disciplines to engineering, life sciences, and natural sciences.

Contact the CDF to know more about NFDI and to engage with the consortia!

NFDI-Talks

NFDITalks provide insights into the wide range of NFDI. Experts from various disciplines talk about research data management topics, new services, use cases and more. The online talks are held regularly on Mondays from 16:00 to 17:00. and are usually in English. Via Zoom, the audience has the opportunity to ask questions to the speakers and enter into a direct dialogue. People outside the NFDI community can also register.

Read more on NFDI.de

6. News from Data Stewards

RDM in the Cluster of Excellence Future Forests

The Cluster of Excellence Future Forests at the University of Freiburg is a large interdisciplinary research consortium which studies the adaptation and transformation of forests and forestry in the light of Global Change, with an initial regional focus on the Black Forest and Rhine valley. Funding of the cluster by the DFG for an initial period of seven years started at the beginning of 2026. During the first 3.5 years, 45 main research projects and additional short-term Incubator projects are funded through the Cluster.

In the first five months, Future Forests’ CDF data stewards have set up the infrastructure for RDM, including a bwSFS storage drive for research data, a wiki as internal knowledge base and a database with web interface for microclimate data that will be collected by a sensor network consisting of approximately 200 stations spread out over the study region. In addition, they developed the cluster’s Research Data Policy (published on Freidok) and conducted a one-day RDM training for the cluster’s PhD students. Further trainings on more specific RDM-related topics, including Data Management Plans, reproducible computational workflows and handling of personal data are planned.

7. Events

Next Data Stewardship-Meeting

• When: 18 June 2026 at 10-11:00
• Where: KG III, HS 3128

More information + registration here

Reports from previous Data Stewardship meetings can be found on the CDF webpage under recent events.

Doc Camp 2026: Pause the Grind, Reset Your Mind

The CDF joins the Doc Camp 2026 in July organized by Freiburg Research Services (FRS) and introduces Research Data Management and its services around this topic to doctoral candidates.

• When: July 6-7, 2026
• Where: Leistungszentrum Herzogenhorn

Registration for this event is still possible via the registration page.

Data Stewardship goes Germany

• When: 28-29 September 2026
• Where: Köln

Save the date! Read more on FDM.nrw

Register here, until 30 August

Helmholtz-Newsletter

For an overview of the most important developments in the field of open science, read the latest newsletter from Helmholtz Open Science Office

8. We want to hear from you!

The CDF is requesting your feedback on 2 topics:

1. Are you using an Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) in your work? Let us know which one!
2. Do you have any legal questions regarding your research? The CDF is collecting questions from researchers to submit to the legal department for clarification.

Let us know via cdf-support@mail.uni-freiburg.de