CoreTrustSeal Trustworthy Data Repositories Requirements 2020–2022

The CoreTrustSeal Trustworthy Data Repositories Requirements (formerly: Core Trustworthy Data Repositories Requirements) were developed by the DSA–WDS Partnership Working Group on Repository Audit and Certification, a Working Group (WG) of the Research Data Alliance. The goal of the effort was to create a set of harmonized common requirements for certification of repositories at the core level, drawing from criteria already put in place by the Data Seal of Approval (DSA) and the World Data System (WDS) of the International Science Council. An additional goal of the project was to develop common procedures to be implemented by both DSA and WDS. Ultimately, the DSA and WDS plan to collaborate on a global framework for repository certification that moves from the core to the extended (nestor-Seal DIN 31644), to the formal (ISO 16363) level.

The CoreTrustSeal Requirements are reviewed and updated if necessary every three years. To prepare the release of the CoreTrustSeal Requirements 2020–2022, a review and revision process was undertaken in several distinct phases. Feedback was included from applicants during past reviews, other communication and outreach activities, as well as an open review period that ran from 1 March 2019 to 31 May 2019. A WG of the CoreTrustSeal Board met face-to-face on 23–25 July 2019 to review each item of feedback, and incorporate them into revisions of the Requirements, Extended Guidance, and Glossary as necessary.

Given the feedback received and that past WDS and DSA repositories are continuing to transition to the CoreTrustSeal certification, the number, structure, and content of the Requirements remain fundamentally stable for 2020–2022. This stability enables the CoreTrustSeal Board to work to support a wider range of repository types and repository technical infrastructure providers in the future. It also provides an established baseline from which to consider other external demands on the CoreTrustSeal.