The NFDI4ING Conference 2025 took place on 15–16 September. For the first time since the start of the project, the conference was conducted as an on-site event. Hosted by the Chair of Fluid Systems of TU Darmstadt, it was situated at the picturesque Georg-Christoph-Lichtenberg-Haus (DE) in Darmstadt.
The conference brought together researchers, practitioners, and industry representatives to discuss the future of research data management in engineering. Under the guiding theme of FAIR digital objects, data products, and digital twins, the opening session set the stage for an exchange on how digital infrastructures can support science and innovation. With participants from across Germany and beyond, the atmosphere was professional and collaborative, accommodating dialogue between academia and industry.
The program offered a variety of formats, from engaging round tables to in-depth presentations. Highlights included discussions on federated infrastructures, knowledge graphs, and research data management for the built environment, as well as sessions dedicated to policies, data literacy, and the role of artificial intelligence in FAIR data practices. Poster sessions and coffee breaks provided further opportunities for exchange, and the closing session summarized the contribution with an outlook on NFDI4ING 2.0.
Beyond the formal sessions, the conference also created space for informal networking. A particular highlight was the conference dinner at Weststadtbar on Monday evening, where participants continued their conversations in a relaxed setting over food and drinks. Overall, we were grateful to host the conference and hope that it left the participants inspired and eager to build on the momentum towards FAIR data management. We’re looking forward to the next NFDI4ING conference in 2026!
