Research needs good data: RatSWD provides impulses for the coming legislative period
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 crises of our time have clearly shown that political decisions in Germany are often not based on solid evidence and are not accurately targeted. Outdated or difficult-to-access data often prevents research and answers to socially relevant questions. “If policy is not accurate, it can be very expensive. We are therefore calling for better access to research data, as has long been the case in our European neighbors,” emphasizes Prof. Dr. Kerstin Schneider, Chair of the RatSWD.
In its position paper for the coming legislative period, the German Data Forum (RatSWD) outlines a 10-point plan for better research data. These include, among other things:
- Improving access to data for science and enabling data linkages to answer socially relevant research questions
- Access to data generated with artificial intelligence and documentation of the algorithms used
- Modernization of register and administrative data to meet the requirements of the digital world
- Establishment of a trustee for microdata to ensure data protection-compliant data access for the scientific community
The demands also include the reform of the Federal Statistics Act, the protection of confidential research data and the establishment of a data infrastructure that provides reliable data in crisis situations. “We must now create the legal basis for a modern research data infrastructure. Good research data benefits everyone. It strengthens Germany as a research location, increases innovative strength and improves the basis for political decisions,” says Prof. Dr. Kerstin Schneider.
The full commentary is available for free download.
The German Data Forum (RatSWD) has been advising the German federal government and the governments of the German states on questions of research data infrastructure for the empirical social, behavioural and economic sciences since 2004. In the RatSWD, ten representatives of the social, behavioural and economic disciplines, legitimised by election, work together with ten representatives of data production.
The RatSWD is part of the Consortium for the Social, Behavioural, Educational and Economic Sciences (KonsortSWD) in the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI). It sees itself as an institutionalised forum for dialogue between science and data producers and develops recommendations and statements. In doing so, it is committed to an infrastructure that provides science with broad, flexible and secure access to data. These data are provided by governmental, science-based and private-sector actors. Currently, the RatSWD has accredited 40 research data centres and promotes their cooperation.