The Registry of Research Data Repositories (re3data.org) is an open science tool that offers researchers, funding organizations, libraries, and publishers an overview of existing international repositories for research data.
Background
re3data.org is a global registry of research data repositories from all academic disciplines. It provides an overview of existing research data repositories in order to help researchers to identify a suitable repository for their data and thus comply with requirements set out in data policies.[1][2]
The registry went live in autumn 2012.[3]
Content
In 2023 the registry lists over 3000 research data repositories from around the world covering all academic disciplines. They are described in detail using the re3data.org schema.[4]
The service makes all metadata in the registry available for open use under the Creative Commons deed CC0.[5]
A screenshot of the DataDryad entry in re3data.org.
Features
The majority of the listed research data repositories are described in detail by a comprehensive schema, namely the re3data.org Schema for the Description of Research Data Repositories.[6]
Information icons support researchers to identify an adequate repository for the storage and reuse of their data.[3]
Aspects of a Research Data Repository with the corresponding icons used in re3data.org.
Inclusion criteria
A repository is indexed when the minimum requirements for inclusion in re3data.org are met: the repository has to be run by a legal entity, such as a sustainable institution (e.g., library, university) and clearly state access conditions to the data and repository as well as the terms of use. Additionally, an English graphical user interface (GUI) plus a focus on research data is needed.[6]
Several publishers, research institutions and funders refer to re3data.org in their editorial policies and guidelines as a tool for the identification of suitable data repositories, such as Springer Nature[7] the European Commission[8] or the National Science Foundation (NSF).[9]
