Press releases

The 10th Conference on Social and Economic Data (10|KSWD) began on Monday 22 June 2026 in Berlin, sending a clear message to policy-makers regarding better ways to utilise research data. The German Government’s proposed Research Data Act dominated the first day of the conference. Under the motto “Data4Society”, researchers will spend two days discussing a high-performance, secure research data infrastructure with representatives from politics, data production and public administration.

3,080 researchers have elected their representatives to the German Data Forum (RatSWD). Ten researchers will advise the Federal Government in future on improving access to research data and research infrastructure.

The German Data Forum (RatSWD) expressly welcomes the tabling of the draft bill for a Research Data Act and the start of consultation with sector organisations.

In light of the adjustment to remuneration at the research data centres (RDCs) of the federal and state statistical offices, the German Data Forum (RatSWD) is calling for the sustainable funding of the RDCs’ services by the science ministries in order to strengthen the scientific community in Germany.

The German Data Forum (Rat für Sozial- und Wirtschaftsdaten, RatSWD) welcomes the commitment to a culture of data use and data sharing formulated in the coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD, as well as the measures announced to improve the research data infrastructure. Particularly noteworthy is the Research Data Act, which is to be presented this year.

The German Data Forum (Rat für Sozial- und Wirtschaftsdaten, RatSWD) emphasizes how important good data is for sound scientific policy advice. With ten concrete demands, it proposes how the research data infrastructure in Germany can be improved in the coming legislative period. The comprehensive implementation of all key points strengthens Germany as a research location and brings Germany closer to the standards of its European neighbors.

The German Data Forum (Rat für Sozial- und Wirtschaftsdaten, RatSWD) expresses concern about the planned adjustment of the fee structure at the Research Data Centres (RDCs) of the Federal and State Statistical Offices. The Scientific Advisory Group (WBK) of the RDCs had drawn attention to a planned significant increase in fees for data and associated services.

The key points paper on the Research Data Act published by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has met with a generally positive response from the German Data Forum (Rat für Sozial- und Wirtschaftsdaten, RatSWD). In a statement, the German Data Forum emphasises the importance of improved access to research data for science in Germany and makes proposals for its implementation.

In its 8th appointment period (2023-2026), the German Data Forum (RatSWD) will focus on solutions for making different types of data available and linking them. Five working groups will develop recommendations on health data, data for crises, company data, policy data and a data trustee model for science. Three task forces will also deal with specific cross-cutting issues. The German Data Forum will closely involve the research community in all activities.

In crisis situations, policymakers rely on findings from social and economic research in order to assess social consequences and make decisions. This is hardly possible without quality-checked research data. In its position paper published today, the German Data Forum (RatSWD) makes demands on politics and science to ensure that research is better prepared for crisis situations.

The Commission on Future Statistics (KomZS) was set up by the Federal Statistical Office to develop a target vision for official statistics in 2030. The final report of this project has now been published and contains specific recommendations for action. The chairpersons of the German Data Forum (RatSWD) are members of the commission and therefore co-authors of the report.

In its position paper published today, the German Data Forum (RatSWD) welcomes the public consultation process on the BMBF's Research Data Act. In addition to the statement of the RatSWD, numerous statements were received from various stakeholders from science, business and civil society. This underlines the need for a research data law to improve science's access to data.