What is a research information system?

Research information systems (RIS) are database systems that have been specially designed for the collection, organisation, storage and linking of research information. Institutional RISs bring together the information about a research institution's research activities and results that is held in various decentralised source systems to provide a structured and up-to-date overview of research performance.

Why does TUBAF need an RIS?

Research information is becoming increasingly important in the daily practice of universities at all levels. In addition to recurring internal reporting requirements (e.g. for committees, evaluations, statistics), external reporting obligations to donors and ministries (e.g. official statistics, fulfilment of target agreements, rankings) must also be fulfilled and ad-hoc enquiries from journalists, politics, business and society must be answered. Research reporting is therefore of great strategic importance for management and competitiveness as well as for the visibility and transparency of research performance to the outside world.

The FIS@TUBAF project

Commissioned by: Rectorate

Project management: University Library

Objectives:

• Increasing the visibility of research performance through a transparent and up-to-date presentation of research activities and results
• Facilitating internal and external networking and consortium building
• . and consortia
• Simplifying reporting and the ability to provide information through valid and quickly retrievable key figures
• Facilitating project management
• Establishing a university bibliography
• Supporting the utilisation of research results in transfer

Research information systems can contain a wealth of information on research infrastructures (e.g. large-scale equipment), research activities and research results. research activities and results, such as publications, projects, patents, cooperation partners, qualifications
(doctorates, habilitations) as well as awards and prizes can be mapped and linked. The open source software DSpace-CRIS 7 used to create the FIS offers a modular structure.

In the first project phase, the following modules are to be developed for live operation by the end of 2024:

• Organisational units
• Personal profiles for all researchers
• Publications
• Projects