The Base4NFDI Development Framework: Growing Interoperable RDM Basic Services Across Domains

Germany’s research data infrastructure is both mature and fragmented - rooted in deep institutional expertise but challenged by complexity when it comes to collaboration and shared service development. The National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) initiative was launched to address this by fostering shared services across disciplines. Within NFDI, the Base4NFDI project provides a technical and decision-making framework to support the structured development of “basic” Research Data Management services that are interoperable, reusable, and sustainable.

The talk highlights the development framework which combines technical (e.g. common AAI), organisational (co-development incentives), and sustainability components (business models, training resources), and emphasizes FAIR service development and open-source licensing.

Development proceeds in three phases: Initialisation (requirement analysis, persona work, and prototyping), Integration (co-development with NFDI consortia through incubator projects), and Ramp-Up (governance, business planning, EOSC integration).

As of mid-2025, eight services are supported, with four in integration and one entering ramp-up. We will share lessons learned from early service development, including insights from service requirement analyses and incubator projects.

By fostering collaboration and transparency from the start, Base4NFDI has the potential to inform infrastructure development efforts in other contexts. We look forward to exchanging ideas and experiences with the IDCC community.