From Spring 2015 to Summer 2017, the DZHW established a research data centre according to the criteria of the German Data Forum. This was repeatedly demanded by the Science Council (Wissenschaftsrat) for both the DZHW and theuniversity and science research as a whole in order to close the corresponding gaps in the research data infrastructure. The establishment of the RDC provides the scientific community with a permanently secure research infrastructure that guarantees transparent access to anonymised microdata via various data access paths. For scientific purposes, data are made available as Scientific Use Files (SUF). Depending on the sensitivity of the data and the degree of anonymisation, the data are available as a download via remote access or via guest scientist workstations. Absolutely anonymised data for teaching purposes are generally made available as a download in the form of Campus Use Files (CUF).
During the development phase, one of the focal points was the creation of SUFs and CUFs from the extensive database of the DZHW’s primary research projects. A website with a search portal of the available data sets created within the project additionally ensures thetransparency of the data and other services offered. The development project was supported by an external project advisory board with members from science and other research data centres. The RDC has been in regular operation since 1 June 2017.
