The curation of data along with its corresponding metadata as well as effective data management are crucial for enhanced scientific productivity and extracting deeper insights from data. As a metadata catalogue, SciCat plays a pivotal role in scientific data handling. With increasing significance of Open Science and adherence to FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) - particularly in the context of scientific publishing of data generated at research facilities - SciCat emerges as a viable solution to tackle the challenges of data curation as the volume of collected data continues to surge.
Built upon a NoSQL database foundation, SciCat is designed to accommodate heterogeneous data and tailored to the specific requirements of scientists and research facilities. Its API-centric architecture streamlines integration with existing infrastructures, enabling seamless incorporation into workflows, including cloud-based systems. Conceived to serve Photon and Neutron sources, with its development originating at PSI and ESS, SciCat effectively addresses the needs of large-scale facilities. This manifests in a recent increase in facilities as well as smaller laboratories, and even individual research groups using SciCat.
Community-driven initiatives such as PaNOSC, ExPaNDS, and DAPHNE4NFDI play an important role in shaping the development of SciCat, together with direct contributions from research facilities. These collaborative efforts aim to continuously enhance SciCat as an open-source solution tailored to the evolving requirements of the Photon and Neutron (PaN) community.