General remarks

Research data – defined as the material (in the broad sense of the term) which forms the basis for the research – gives rise to many legal and research ethical questions and issues. Some of these issues are discussed in other articles here at the Researcher Portal:

A more fundamental question is: What requirements can be set for research data management in relation to the collection and/or provision of data, storage and processing of data in the context of the current research, as well as subsequent handling of data (deletion/destruction or continuing storage)? These issues are of vital importance to ensure research integrity, and they thus represent an essential element of good scientific practice.

In recent years there has been an increased focus on these issues in Denmark and internationally. In February 2014, Universities Denmark, Danish e-Infrastructure Co-operation (DeIC) and Denmark’s Electronic Research Library set up a “Steering Group for National Data Management”, which was given the task of drawing up a national strategy for research data management. This strategy was published on 30 January 2015, see: National Strategy for Research Data Management 2015-2018.

In addition, a National Forum for Research Data Management has been established. The purpose of this forum is “to promote technical and research-related initiatives within research data management at universities, linking them in national and international cooperation with a focus on:

  • Cross-organisational knowledgesharing
  • Cross-organisational projects aiming to facilitate and qualify work
  • Cross-organisational infrastructures when demanded and sustainable

Detailed information on the various initiatives and international developments may be found at DeIC’s website .

Responsibilities

The Danish Code of conduct for research integrity (2014) defines the following overall responsibilities (p. 9):

“i. Primary materials and data should be retained, stored and managed in a clear and accurate form that allows the result to be assessed, the procedures to be retraced and – when relevant and applicable – the research to be reproduced. The extent to which primary materials and data are retained and the recommended retaining period should always be determined by the current practices applicable to the specific field of research. However, data should in general be kept for a period of at least five years from the date of publication.

ii. The data records should enable identification of persons having conducted the research and persons or institutions with responsibility for the primary materials, data, and research results. The data records should contain a precise and traceable reference to the source. Any changes to the primary materials or data stored should be clearly accounted for in a way that allows clear identification of the changes made.”

Policy on retention of research data

According to the Danish Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (2014) research institutions should have a policy for retention of research data.

The University of Copenhagen laid down a (very general) “policy on research data” on 1 July 2014. The policy stipulates, among other things, that the retention of research data which forms the basis of the individual researcher’s research is the responsibility of the individual researcher, and that the retention period for research data is a minimum of 5 years, unless otherwise required by law.

Aarhus University has laid down rules on data management in the guidelines on responsible conduct of research at Aarhus University (2015). These guidelines stipulate among other things that

“Responsible handling and storage of research data contribute to transparent and credible research within all fields of inquiry

For research carried out at Aarhus University:

  • As a general rule, all primary material and data derived from from research conducted at Aarhus
    University must be stored at Aarhus University, which makes servers, archives etc. are available.
  • All protocols, plans and strategies for experiments/studies, notes, laboratory books, data and primary
    material must be stored for five years after the completion of the research project, and, unless this is
    in conflict with other regulations or professional standards, and that there must be open access to
    the material, unless this is conflict with other regulations.
  • All primary research material and data derived from research conducted at Aarhus University belongs
    primarily to Aarhus University and can only be removed or used outside of Aarhus University
    subject to written agreement with a department head .
  • Research data and other primary research material from Aarhus University must be disposed of in a
    safe and secure manner with due regard for any ethical considerations.

Aarhus University is responsible for ensuring that rules are laid down for all fields of inquiry on the storage and handling of data.”

See also the Aarhus University website on research data management.

Storage facilities

According to the Danish Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, research institutions are responsible for maintaining secure data storage facilities that comply with the applicable confidentiality requirements as well as other relevant provisions and guidelines, including the GDPR rules. The Danish research institutions have therefore laid down detailed internal guidelines for the storage of research data. See, for example, this overview of the facilities that Aarhus University makes available.

Rights to research data

There is often a need to provide the above-mentioned policies on retention of research data with rules governing the legal rights to the primary material and/or research data. This can make it possible to anticipate problems that may arise in research collaborations, including when scientists leave research projects ahead of time. In this case it may for example be appropriate to clarify the extent to which the various researchers working on the projects will be allowed to retain a copy of the primary material and data that have been collected, and to what extent they will be allowed to continue working with them.

Some data management policies tentatively use wordings such as “all forms of research data will remain the property of the university” and the like. However, the UBVA finds such wording to be unsuitable. The fact is that the legal handling of rights to research data is a very complicated matter, and the rights that may come into play arise from different legal rules with different legal effects.

The UBVA has compiled recommendations on how data management policies should regulate rights to primary material and research data. The recommendations conclude with specific proposals for provisions that may be included in the policies.

See the recommendations here (Danish version) and here (English version).

Danish model agreements for research collaborations

Please see the article: Agreements on research collaborations.

Public access to research data (open access, open data, open science, etc.)

According to the Danish Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (2014), Danish institutions should provide access to the stored primary material and data, “unless this is contrary to the contractual and/or legal obligations or applicable regulations, for example on ethics, confidentiality, or protection of privacy or intellectual property rights”.  These exceptions indicate that this is a very complex area.

Please see the articles on Open Science and Open Access and Copyright Law.

Deposit of research data to the Danish National Archives

In some cases the Danish National Archives will receive research data from both private and public research projects. The rules are currently under review, so therefore please refer to the website of  The Danish National Archives.

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