Making research data more usable

The German Research Foundation (DFG) has continued to fund the DAPHNE4NFDI consortium since the beginning of October 2026. DAPHNE4NFDI stands for Data from Photon and Neutron Experiments and is a consortium of 18 partners. The Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) is also involved with all three of its partners, working to further develop research data management for the user community.

Dr. Sebastian Busch, Dr. Wiebke Lohstroh and Dr. Astrid Schneidewind (f.l.) are leading the DAPHNE-projects at the MLZ. © Bernhard Ludewig, FRM II / TUM ; Wenzel Schürmann, TUM

Dr. Sebastian Busch, Dr. Wiebke Lohstroh and Dr. Astrid Schneidewind (f.l.) are leading the DAPHNE-projects at the MLZ. © Bernhard Ludewig, FRM II / TUM ; Wenzel Schürmann, TUM

Ever-growing volumes of data, more complex experiments, and the rising need for fast data analysis are placing new demands on researchers in terms of data management and automated analysis methods. These topics are at the heart of DAPHNE4NFDI, one of 27 consortia funded under the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI). In particular, data generated at photon and neutron large-scale research facilities is to comply with the FAIR principles. FAIR stands for Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. The consortium also includes the three MLZ partners: the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ), and Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon.

DAPHNE4NFDI is one of 27 funded consortia under the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI). © DAPHNE4NFDI

DAPHNE4NFDI is one of 27 funded consortia under the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI). © DAPHNE4NFDI

Shared standards
“Since the first funding period began in 2021, DAPHNE4NFDI has been developing standards, services, and software in a community-driven way to help researchers efficiently manage, share, and reuse data throughout the entire research cycle,” says Dr. Astrid Schneidewind, who oversees the project for Forschungszentrum Jülich at the MLZ.

Expanding the use of data
In the second funding phase, the developments are to be made available as a standard offering to researchers at neutron and photon sources. “In the end, the project should do one thing above all: make access to our data easier,” says Dr. Sebastian Busch of the German Engineering Materials Science Centre at Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon at the MLZ. Dr. Wiebke Lohstroh (TUM) adds: “Close coordination within the consortium and the joint establishment of data and software repositories will broaden the scientific use of the data, both nationally and internationally, and across disciplines throughout the entire NFDI.”

At the MLZ, the three partners, the Technical University of Munich with the FRM II, Forschungszentrum Jülich, and Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, will jointly receive around six full-time positions for implementation.