Building and Scaling RDM Structures: Insights from a University Case and a Multi-University Innovation Network
This session brings together two complementary perspectives on establishing and enhancing research data management (RDM) structures in higher education institutions. While the contexts differ — one focusing on Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) and the other on a comprehensive institutional framework at a German university — both contributions address the urgent need to better integrate RDM into the broader research, development, and innovation (RDI) ecosystems.
The first presentation explores the current imbalance in digital transformation efforts between education and RDI in Finnish UAS. Based on recent findings from the national CIO barometer, only a marginal portion of IT development supports RDI activities. Through the work of a national RDI data management group and a qualitative survey, key causes of this disparity are identified, and three strategic courses of action are proposed to strengthen UAS engagement in national and international RDI data ecosystems.
The second presentation provides a deep dive into the institutional structuring of RDM at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. It highlights the importance of going beyond technical infrastructure by focusing on researcher-centered services such as training, consultation, and strategic support. A model of six interconnected fields of action will be presented, offering a transferable framework for other institutions aiming to embed RDM sustainably into their research environment.
Together, these case studies offer both systemic and practice-oriented insights into building effective RDM structures — from initiating organizational change to establishing long-term institutional competence. The session invites discussion on how higher education institutions can move from isolated initiatives toward scalable, collaborative frameworks that support robust RDI ecosystems.
