The FedOSC team is very happy to share a new webinar about data storage and preservation
13 October 2026 – 13:00
Online
Data storage is not just a technical challenge: it is a key component of strategic, FAIR research data management throughout the entire data lifecycle. From the moment a project begins, researchers can make decisions about where and how data are stored, documented, shared, and ultimately archived and preserved, for traceability and long-term reuse. This webinar will explore how storage needs evolve over the course of a project, the distinction between active storage, long-term preservation, and archiving, and the factors that influence preservation decisions. It will provide concrete leads for solutions, and examine how sustainable storage practices, appropriate preservation strategies, and dedicated infrastructures can support the long-term FAIRness, accessibility, and reuse of research data within the federal research landscape.
The webinar will take place via Teams. It is open to anyone curious about federal open data initiatives, looking for inspiration and practical takeaways from real use cases. Registration is preferred via this form.
Please note that the webinar will be recorded and shared on the future FedOSC learning space(s). A two-pager summary along with recommended further reading will also be provided. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Programme
- Data storage and preservation throughout the research data lifecycle – Johan Van der Eycken (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0104-9928), head of Digital Archiving at the State Archives of Belgium
This presentation examines data storage from a research data management perspective, along the research data lifecycle. Topics include planning for storage from the beginning of a project, documenting data for future reuse, and preparing datasets for preservation. Financial and environmental costs of data storage, and the role of the State Archives in preserving research data will also be considered.
- Data storage in the federal ecosystem: best practices and available services - David Vincent, Digital Strategic Advisor at BELSPO, Laura Zombek, IT Project Manager at Smals and Jean-Pierre Aerts, Product Manager at Belnet
This presentation provides an overview of data storage practices, concepts and recommendations, in the Belgian federal ecosystem. Existing solutions for active storage and long-term preservation will be presented with a few "how-to's", including the OCRE system and Smals' LTP infrastructure.
- FAIRVault: a case study in sustainable and FAIR data preservation - Thomas van Erven, Project Manager (UGent) for FAIRVault
This presentation showcases a practical case study illustrating how storage and preservation infrastructures can support FAIR principles. Through the FAIRVault project, participants will discover the motivations, design choices, challenges, and lessons learned when building a solution that facilitates both long-term preservation and future reuse of research data.
Full programme available here.