Detailed description of the service 

The mission of the NFDI-RFC is to document and make accessible shared standards for handling research data, thereby establishing them in the research landscape. The NFDI-RFC standards are essential for addressing the challenges of FAIR data.

The NFDI-RFC concept provides a structured framework for the rapid development, publication, and dissemination of technical specifications in research data management. By adopting a standardized approach inspired by the IETF’s Request for Comments model, it enables the scientific community to collaboratively define and refine guidelines that address key challenges in RDM – such as data formats, metadata standards, and system interoperability. This concept supports the transformation of evolving knowledge into modular, reusable, and widely accepted quasi-standards. 

The ideas for NFDI-RFCs derived from NFDI initiatives and other developments in the RDM domain, preparing the groundwork for future formalization into national or international standards. These standards are designed to be modular, interoperable, and applicable both within and across disciplines. Over time, these quasi-standards may be elevated to formalized DIN or ISO standards, having already been validated through practical application and endorsed by the relevant expert communities. By embedding the NFDI-RFC platform within the NFDI framework, its reach, impact, and acceptance are expected to grow significantly. The goal of those involved in publishing NFDI-RFCs is to ensure that the NFDI-RFCs are aligned with existing European and global activities, thus leading to international dissemination.

The NFDI-RFC series serves as an archival framework for documenting specifications related to research data management (RDM). It includes:

• General contributions from the fields of RDM and science,
• Standardization documents that support consistent practices.

The creation of NFDI-RFCs begins with a foundational structure, which is designed to evolve over time in response to developments within RDM and the NFDI ecosystem. This evolution encompasses both technical aspects and the growth of organizational structures and policies.

To support this, NFDI-RFCs are designed to:

• Build upon one another, forming a coherent and progressive documentation series,
• Complement or replace earlier RFCs as new versions are developed and published.

This approach ensures that the NFDI-RFC series remains adaptable, relevant, and aligned with the changing needs of the research data community.