Accreditation by the RatSWD
The German Data Forum (RatSWD) has been accrediting research data centres (RDCs) since 2008 in order to provide access to high-quality, sensitive data for science.
A research data infrastructure (RDI) based on research data centres (RDCs) has been successfully established in the social, behavioural, educational and economic sciences. The RDCs provide scientists with flexible and comprehensive access to sensitive data for empirical research in compliance with data protection and ethical conditions.
To ensure the quality of the research data infrastructure, the German Data Forum (RatSWD) and the Committee for Research Data Infrastructure (FDI Committee) have developed minimum standards and criteria for the accreditation of RDCs by the RatSWD. The accreditation criteria focus on the equal treatment of all authorised data users when accessing data.
Five mandatory criteria must be met for full accreditation by the RatSWD. All further information can be found on our German site.
Workshop on the 10th of December 2025
- Data Infrastructure Meets Quality Certification – Insights from the German Data Forum
The slides present measures the German Data Forum (RatSWD) implemented to ensure the quality of the accredited research data infrastructure based on research data centres (RDCs) established in the social, behavioural, educational and economic sciences in Germany. RDCs provide scientists with flexible and comprehensive access to sensitive data for empirical research in compliance with data protection and ethical conditions.