RSpace - From Electronic Laboratory Notebook to FAIR Research Data Orchestration

Research institutions face a fundamental challenge in delivering sustainable and FAIR-compliant research data management: tools and infrastructure often operate in isolation, creating barriers to the flow of data and metadata through the research lifecycle. This presentation discusses the concept of vertical interoperability as a prerequisite for streamlined FAIR data workflows at scale. Using RSpace as a concrete example, the presentation demonstrates how an open-source research platform can serve as a connecting hub rather than a standalone tool. Referencing current and upcoming capabilities in RSpace, we show how persistent identifiers, standardized metadata, and open practices enable vertical interoperability and FAIR research workflows in practice.

This presentation was delivered online on January 14th, 2026, during the monthly meeting of the Competence Network for Open Science – Data Steward PL, a Polish working group aimed at data stewards and others involved in archiving, sharing, and promoting research data.