DataNord: Empowering Data Literacy - Strengthening Bremen's Research

DataNord is an interdisciplinary data competence center for the Bremen region, established as part of the U Bremen Research Alliance (UBRA) – a regional collaboration network of the University of Bremen and twelve non-university research institutes. It serves as a hub for cross-disciplinary and interinstitutional data science learning, research, and networking in the Bremen region. DataNord is one of eleven data competence centers funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of a nationwide initiative.

Bringing together universities, non-university research institutions, state institutes, NFDI consortia, and infrastructure centers, DataNord consolidates comprehensive expertise in research data management and data science. Its scientific profile areas include: (1) Environmental and Marine Sciences, (2) Social Sciences, (3) Material and Engineering Sciences, (4) Health Sciences, and (5) Humanities.

DataNord provides training and support for researchers at all career levels to enhance their data skills. Its comprehensive offers include trainings, consulting services, hackathons, summer schools, networking opportunities, self-learning materials, and research projects. The entire data lifecycle is considered, from data collection and management to analysis and critical evaluation of hypotheses and results, while taking ethical, legal, and social aspects into account.

Two central pillars of DataNord are the Data Science Center (DSC) at the University of Bremen and the interdisciplinary doctoral training program "Data Train – Training in Research Data Management and Data Science" of the UBRA. At the DSC, an interdisciplinary team of data scientists was established providing consulting services and flexible training modules, tailored to researchers with varying levels of expertise from all five scientific focus areas. The Data Train programme has successfully provided foundational data science education since 2021 and will be expanded as part of DataNord. It features three structured learning tracks – the Starter Track with introductory courses and two hands-on Operator Tracks “Data Steward” and “Data Scientist”.

Additionally, DataNord hosts a variety of networking events and community activities designed to facilitate collaboration and knowledge transfer. These include “Data Snacks”, “Data Stories”, “Hacky Hours”, “Data Factories”, the “Data Community Club”, and the “Research Data Day”. These initiatives target different audiences, from researchers to the broader public. Moreover, the “Research Academy” integrates data literacy directly into research processes, while a Citizen Science project and science communication initiatives further drive the transfer of knowledge and technology into society, industry, and policymaking.

With its interdisciplinary approach, DataNord leverages Bremen’s existing data infrastructures and networks to build bridges between disciplines. This fosters new collaborations in research and education and promotes knowledge transfer beyond the region.

In our presentation at the E-Science Tage 2025, we introduce DataNord as an inter-institutional solution for promoting data skills and accelerating the cultural shift towards a FAIR data culture. We share insights from our experience, highlight best practices, and discuss challenges.

Furthermore, we explore DataNord’s role within Bremen’s data ecosystem and its significance in Germany’s broader research landscape. With its interdisciplinary focus and extensive collaborations – including partnerships with eleven NFDI consortia – DataNord serves as a scalable model and best-practice for other regions in Germany.