Background and mission

In recent decades, there has been a boom in information and communication technology. Partly as a result of this, the technical sciences have acquired a huge volume of digital measurement and research data. It is acknowledged globally that we must take good care of this treasure house of information. Existing scientific data can be reused in many ways, after all -in traditional research, but also in e-research, such as pattern recognition in large volumes of data (see The End of Theory by Chris Anderson).

However, permanent access to the data will not only serve the collective scientific interests, but also the individual interest of researchers. The publications by researchers who supply the underpinning data sets of the studies are cited more often (see Sharing Detailed Research Data Is Associated with Increased Citation Rate by Piwowar, Day and Fridsma). This can lead to higher research funding.

If they are to maintain international recognition, Dutch experts must have access to a reliable infrastructure for sustainable data management. In this respect, the alpha and gamma sciences can call upon DANS (Data Archiving and Networked Services, an institute of NWO and KNAW). And now with 3TU.Datacentrum, technical-scientific research in the Netherlands also has such a provision.

Our mission is to become the foremost facility for the permanent accessibility of technical-scientific research data. The focus is on (national and international) programmes and projects in which Dutch research groups are involved. We also provide access to technical-scientific data stored elsewhere in the world.