Implementation of a National Data Center for the Humanities (DaSCH)

Up-to-date research in the humanities today depends as much on digital methods and digital data. However, the use of
computer-based methods and online sources in the humanities still faces several challenges, including the difficulty of
ensuring the longevity of research data, the lack of common basic services, inadequate standardisation of data formats,
insufficient training in digital methods and best practices, and weak international Digital Humanities networks. Digital
documents are accumulated, organised and annotated using electronic databases. However, the necessary infrastructure
is most often established in a project- specific way and is not designed for the long-term preservation of data. After the
completion of a research project, these digital resources quickly become unavailable if they, and the software and
hardware they rely on, are not properly maintained. Keeping digital data accessible after the end of a project is costly in
terms of money and labour and is usually not included in the project funding.