Position Paper
in German
DaDiSC
Data & Digital Science Community
In 2023, by an initiative of the Data Science Center of the University of Bremen, the Digital Science Center of Kiel University, and the Mannheim Center for Data Science of the University of Mannheim, an organized network within the German speaking science community was formed for Data and Digital Science.
The community shall bring together scattered efforts and foster stronger collaboration across groups, including existing initiatives such as those from NFDI and Data Competence Centers like the DKZ.2R. Its goal is to work jointly on advancing Data and Digital Science practices, ensuring that knowledge, tools, and methodologies are shared. By defining common priorities and identifying challenges that matter most, the community aims to build a cohesive foundation for future developments and drive innovation more effectively.
Since 2023, the growing community has met several times to discuss which actions to take. The fruits of this collaboration is a position paper published in November 2025 and the association DaDiSC. The founding of the association is underway, coordinated by the University of Bremen and Kiel University.
Research with large quantities of data – a phenomenon across many disciplines
Research involving large amounts of data is now commonplace in many scientific disciplines—not only in statistics and computer science, but also in subjects such as linguistics, cultural studies, and history. One reason for this is that modern technologies and digitization have made more and more data available in digital form, for example, mobile phones and location data, open government data from cities, and data from health apps. Researchers are therefore calling for reliable, long-term funding for central institutions such as data and digital science centers in order to strengthen data-intensive and digitally supported research in the long term. Currently, project-based funding is still common, as is the case with the eleven data competence centers funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. According to the researchers, data and digital science must be explicitly included in federal and state research, digital, and innovation strategies and supported with long-term funding lines.
Stronger focus on Digital and Data Science in research and teaching
These political framework conditions are to be supplemented by a stronger focus on digital and data science in research and teaching. This includes, for example, well-equipped centers for digital and data science. According to the researchers, this will not only enable data and digital science services for researchers at the respective locations, for example in the form of consulting and support for data management and data analysis. It will also facilitate collaboration between centers at different locations. The researchers also believe that data and digital literacy, i.e., the ability to handle large amounts of data, should be widely promoted in teaching. Competent handling of data should be taught across disciplines in various degree programs; to this end, teachers would also need didactic and technical support. Technical and non-technical disciplines would have to work together in this area.
Strengthen and expand Data Science – 40 Researchers publish position paper (November, 2025)
Research involving large amounts of data is becoming increasingly relevant in more and more scientific disciplines. In a position paper, 40 researchers from 21 German and Austrian research institutions are therefore calling for greater political and scientific commitment to digital and data science.
Position Paper
Abstract
This position paper addresses the central role of data and digital science, as well as the necessary transfer of skills for a sustainable science system in German-speaking countries. In view of the profound digital transformation and the growing importance of data-intensive research, it shows that the existing potential for scientific and social innovation has not yet been sufficiently exploited. Data and digital science combine methodological expertise—for example, in data analysis and artificial intelligence—with domain-specific knowledge, thus creating the basis for new research approaches in almost all disciplines.
It is clear that this requires permanently established structures: institutionally consolidated data and digital science centers, broad-based skills development, and effective bridging of national and European data infrastructures. On this basis, key policy recommendations are formulated, including reliable core funding for the structural support of interdisciplinary and cross-location research, as well as the sustainable promotion of data and digital literacy.
The position paper was developed bottom-up by the data and digital science community and signed by representatives of various universities, research institutions, and data competence centers in German-speaking countries. It is aimed at political decision-makers, universities, research institutions, and the scientific community, and provides information on the structural requirements and strategic measures necessary to anchor data and digital science sustainably in the scientific system.
If you would like to sign the paper as well, please contact Dr. Lena Steinmann, the coordinator of the Data Science Center of the University of Bremen. Your signature will then be added to the website. A new version of the position paper with an updated signature list may be uploaded to Zenodo in the future.