The Radboud Data Repository (RDR) originated as the Donders Repository, a pilot project at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour. In close collaboration, researchers, ICT developers, and data stewards at the Donders Institute defined the initial requirements that shaped the design and implementation of the first version of the Donders Repository. After several years of successful use within the Donders Institute, the repository proved its value as a reliable and scalable archiving and publishing solution. Building on this foundation, in 2021 the system was made available to all Radboud University research institutes under the name Radboud Data Repository (RDR). In 2024 the RDR had a second expension when the Radboudumc (Radboud university medical center) joined.

Since its university-wide launch, the RDR has continued to evolve through ongoing development and community-driven improvements. New functionalities have been added to support the full research lifecycle, including anonymous external review, FAIR review (curation), and the ability to publish Software collections. We work closely with researchers, data stewards, and technical experts to refine existing features, improve usability, and introduce new capabilities that support responsible, transparent, and FAIR-aligned research data management. As research practices, technologies, and policies continue to develop, the RDR evolves with them, ensuring it remains a sustainable and future-proof platform for the Radboud University research community.

The Radboud Data Repository (RDR) supports researchers at Radboud University and Radboudumc in the long-term archiving and FAIR publication of their research data and software, in alignment with Radboud University’s Research Data Management (RDM) Policy.

The mission of the RDR is to preserve the university’s research data and software for the long term and to make these accessible in accordance with the FAIR principles. By doing so, the RDR aims to:

• Enhance the impact of research executed at Radboud University by supporting reuse of research data and software within and outside of Radboud University.
• Support research quality and integrity by facilitating the documentation of the research process.

Through these objectives, the RDR contributes to the overarching strategy of Radboud University:

“To contribute to a free and healthy world with equal opportunities for all and to make a significant impact on a regional and an international level.”

Scope

The RDR focuses on the long‑term preservation and publication of digital research data and software, across all academic disciplines. Its services are designed to assist researchers at Radboud University and Radboudumc with securely archiving and preparing collections for responsible access and reuse.

Student data are also part of the scope, but only when they serve as the foundation of a scientific report other than the student’s thesis.

The RDR also accommodates research collaborations with external partners. Colleagues from other institutions can be granted access to the relevant collections to contribute content and documentation within the secure RDR environment.

In addition to serving the internal research community, the RDR also contributes to making Radboud University’s research outputs discoverable to the broader public. The RDR enables researchers, citizen scientists, and interested members of the public to find and explore research that has been published in the RDR.

The design of the Radboud Data Repository (RDR) is grounded in the structure of the research life cycle. Because research data evolve through distinct stages from initial acquisition, to processing and analysis, and ultimately to publication the RDR provides dedicated collection types that correspond to these phases. This allows researchers to organise their data and software in a way that reflects the natural progression of their research, while ensuring that each stage receives the level of protection, documentation, and curation it requires.

At the start of a project, Data Acquisition Collections offer a secure environment for depositing raw data as soon as they are acquired. Archiving raw materials at the earliest possible moment safeguards research integrity by ensuring that these original data remain unchanged and fully traceable. Once archived, the data are protected from any accidental or intentional alteration, preserving a verifiable foundation for all subsequent analyses and interpretations.

As research progresses, Research Documentation Collections provide a structured space for storing and documenting, and ultimately archiving key intermediate outputs. These collections allow researchers to register processed data, software, derived materials, and other essential outputs in a controlled environment. This supports the transparency and reproducibility of the research process without duplicating or replacing local workflows and tools.

Towards the end of the research life cycle, Data Sharing Collections support the final documentation and publishing of research data and software, often in support of a journal publication or another academic work. In this phase, researchers prepare the essential outputs of their project for publishing by ensuring that collections are complete, well‑structured, and accompanied by the information needed to interpret and verify the research. These collections are supported by internal and external review processes and provide a controlled environment in which data and software can be finalised before they are made accessible for future reuse.

By structuring the repository around these phases, the RDR directly reinforces its mission. It enhances the impact of Radboud University research by enabling the responsible archiving and publication of research data and software, and it strengthens research quality and integrity by ensuring that raw data, analysis outputs, and final published versions are clearly distinguished and preserved. This life cycle oriented design helps maintain transparency, reproducibility, and long-term trustworthiness across all academic disciplines.