FDOF - Phase I

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In October 2019, the Group of European Data Experts (GEDE) organized a meeting in Paris. GEDE is a broad collaboration of experts working in European research infrastructure projects. The meeting invited about 30 experts to discuss aspects of digital objects as they were discussed in the Research Data Alliance, the DONA Foundation, and the GOFAIR initiative. Hosted by the renowned French Observatory, the workshop was titled “Moving Forward on Data Infrastructure Technology Convergence” and aimed to “decide on a joint agreement on FAIR digital objects, stating the requirements for FAIR digital objects, and agree on a governance structure to advance FAIR DO development.” Following the meeting, Peter Wittenburg and Luiz Bonino updated the joint paper on a FAIR digital object framework based on comments made during the workshop.

A year later, George Strawn and Peter Wittenburg took the initiative to transform the ongoing discussions into action by launching the FDO Forum in January 2021. They invited all participants from the Paris workshop, as well as additional experts who were actively considering FAIR Digital Objects (FDO) as a critical component of data management and interoperability. They chose a light ad hoc governance, formed a Steering Committee by integrating experts who showed commitment, appointed co-chairs, and started the first working groups. From time to time, new members were invited to the SC due to their deep engagement in FDO matters. Secretarial help from Naturalis (NL) was welcomed and enabled us to create processes, maintain a website, and perform other important organizational and administrative work. This organizational setting was basically maintained until the end of 2023.

In 2024, the FDOF realized that an update to the organizational structure was necessary and was implemented based on the outcome of an “Organization Task Force.” Secretarial support has been handed over to the GWDG (DE), which is clearly committed to the FDOF’s goals and already coordinates much of the FDO infrastructure development work in Germany and Europe.

Phase I achieved the following:

  • The concept of FDOs is now widely known and resonates even in industry. Basic specifications have been developed, leaving room for various implementations. Several implementations have been developed that claim to comply with the specifications. An increasing number of applications have been developed, often within isolated projects.

Therefore, Phase I was successful. We recognize that the transition we are aiming for with FDOs will take a long time and require patience and persistence.