Archives as a market regulator, or how can archives connect supply and demand?

What do researchers need from archives? What do archives need from researchers? These questions cover two types of researchers that encounter data archives: data creators and data reusers. These groups have different needs and it is archives that mediate between them. The role of an archive for creators is to support them in producing quality data, metadata and documentation and to facilitate wide and multipurpose data dissemination. By supporting multipurpose reuse to the fullest extent possible, archives help realise the value of public investment in academic research. This paper discusses the optimisation of research data management training and support for research data creators and data dissemination and long-term preservation for social science data archives. It outlines the GESIS plan to create a research data management and archive training centre for the cessda-ERIC European research area, to cater for both data supply and data demand. The training centre will look to ensure excellence in the creation and long-term preservation of reusable data in the cessda-ERIC area, contribute to promoting and adaptating standards in research data management and promote data availability and reuse. Finaly, the centre will provide and coordinate training on technologies and tools used by data professionals.