Research Data Repositories: Review of current features, gap analysis, and recommendations for minimum requirements

Abstract
Data sharing is increasingly recognized as integral to scientific research and publishing. This requires informed and thoughtful preparation from initial research planning to collection of data/metadata, interoperability, deposit in data repositories, and curation. Research Data Canada (RDC) is a collaborative, non-government organization that promotes access to and preservation of Canadian research data. The RDC Standards and Interoperability Committee (RDC-SINC) surveyed 32 Canadian and International online data platforms for storage, data transfer, curation activities, preservation, access, and sharing features. We developed a checklist to compare criteria and features between platforms. The survey revealed a heterogeneity of features and services across platforms, nonstandardized use of terms, uneven compliance with relevant standards, and a paucity of certified data repositories. Recommendations for online digital infrastructure development to meet evolving researcher and end-user needs centre around persistent identification and citation of datasets, data reliability, version control, metadata, data sharing, privacy controls, long-term preservation of data, and certification of data repositories. We identified a need in Canada for investment in an integrated, comprehensive national digital infrastructure for research data.
 

Keywords: Data sharing, data publication, digital repository, data interoperability, data standards, data deposit, digital infrastructure