The Latvian Data Curator Network enriches the landscape of Latvian science by advancing research data management within the country’s research institutions, ensuring the practical implementation of open science principles, and providing consultation to researchers on various data management issues. To promote data sharing and reuse, the Latvian Research Data Repository “DataverseLV” has been established. In this way, Latvia is actively developing a modern research data management environment that aligns with the principles of open science.
Within the project, a Data Curator Network has been established, bringing together more than 20 specialists from four scientific universities — the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, the University of Latvia, Rīga Stradiņš University, and Riga Technical University — as well as the Higher Education and Science Information Technology Shared Service Centre(VPC).
The specialists have acquired essential competencies through intensive training at one of Europe’s leading data management centres, the Digital Curation Centre (DCC) in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. They have gained key skills in research data management and continue to expand their expertise through participation in international events and seminars.
Data curator support is available to every researcher in Latvia. Curators provide personalized consultations at all stages of the data lifecycle — from planning to storage, publication, and reuse. As part of the project, a Research Data Management Guide has been developed, explaining step by step the best practices, requirements, and tools for effective data management. The network also regularly organizes educational activities and training sessions to strengthen researchers’ practical data management skills.
The Data Curator Network is actively involved in the development and improvement of research data management guidelines and policies, fostering a unified, high-quality, and sustainable data management system in line with national and international standards.
The network has established and maintains the Latvian Research Data Repository – DataverseLV, which provides all researchers in Latvia with a reliable environment for the long-term preservation and publication of research data. The DataverseLV repository actively participates in collaboration networks to implement good management practices and is working toward obtaining CoreTrustSeal certification as a trusted and sustainable repository.
This initiative strengthens Latvia’s position within the European Research Area, promoting sustainable, efficient, and open science. All researchers are encouraged to contact the data curators regarding any research data management questions.
The project “Support for the Practical Implementation of Open Science and Development of Solutions for Scientific Data Sharing and Participation in the European Open Science Cloud” (ANM 2.1.3.1.i) has been implemented with the financial support of the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility and the State of Latvia.
