University of Salford selects Figshare and Arkivum to create an integrated research data management solution

With funder mandated expectations on open access to data imposed by researching-funding bodies such as Research Council UK (RCUK) now in force, UK institutions like University of Salford are having to take measures to ensure their research data is stored securely and persistently, with appropriate metadata and made freely accessible on the Internet.

University of Salford’s new solution enables staff, students and researchers to meet funding-body requirements for open access to data while providing a secure, long-term space for a wide range of content; all on a platform that encourages data discovery, collaboration and re-use.

Working together in partnership, Arkivum is providing its large scale, long-term, and assured digital archiving solution and Figshare, its research data management discovery platform which specialises in ‘active data’. This new innovative integrated solution meets the key requirements set out by University of Salford by:

· Lowering operating costs
· Providing a highly reliable service from suppliers with established reputations in the UK
· Complying with RCUK funding guidelines and UK legal requirements.

Additionally, the solution supports the storage of primary data generated during original research projects, alongside derived and summarised data used to support publications.

“It’s been a pleasure working with Figshare and Arkivum”, said David Clay, Associate University Librarian at the University of Salford. “The two systems work seamlessly together and exceed all of our current requirements for managing open access to our funded research data. We see this as a long-term collaborative partnership and are looking forward to deploying new functionality as our need and requirements grow”.

“We’re delighted that the University of Salford chose the Arkivum and Figshare solution”, said Steve Mackey, VP of Sales for Education at Arkivum. “As we work with institutions to help them deploy systems that provide them with compliance to open access expectations, our partnership with Figshare is leading the way and the University of Salford has demonstrated its confidence in the combined solution whilst thinking long-term in meeting its research data management requirements”.