FAIRVault. An Interuniversity Project On Creating A Restricted Access Data Archive

In 2023, four Flemish universities (Ghent University, Hasselt University, University of Antwerp, and Vrije Universiteit Brussel) initiated the FAIRVault project to provide researchers with a secure, FAIR-aligned (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) generic solution for preserving and providing (controlled) access to research data. It targets cases where external repositories are less feasible, such as for sensitive or large datasets, ensuring data retention and security.

The project’s goal is to implement a trustworthy, FAIR-enabling “preservation” system, addressing the needs of research communities at partner institutions. By ensuring proper preservation, FAIRVault will promote data sharing, efficient resource use, and supports domains where existing solutions fall short in meeting security or FAIR principles.

Development prioritizes the needs of diverse stakeholders:

1. Researchers, who bear the responsibility of ensuring long-term findability and accessibility of data.
2. Institutions, managing data assets within regulations and minimizing costs.
3. Data re-users, seeking transparent access processes.
4. The Flemish Government, fostering connections to the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).
5. FOSB/FRDN members, seeking cost-effective Open Science solutions.
6. Research funders, prioritizing ethical, FAIR-aligned data management.
7. EOSC, supporting interoperable data infrastructures.
8. Other research institutions, given the aim to provide an operational service beyond the initial consortium.

The FAIRVault aims to fill a critical gap in secure, FAIR-compliant preservation and facilitates data sharing while aligning with Open Science principles and European standards.