• Output Type: Working Group Supporting Output
  • Output Status: Endorsed
  • Review Period End: 2024-06-15
  • DOI:

    Research Hardware Definition

  • Group: FAIR Principles for Research Hardware
  • Standards:
  • Regions:
  • Language:

  • Non RDA Author(s)

  • Adopters

  • Abstract

    FAIR Principles for Research Hardware IG

    Group Co-chairs: Nadica Miljković, Julien Colomb

    Subgroup Chair: Alexander Struck

    Supporting Output Title: Research Hardware Definition

    Authors: Nadica Miljković, Julien Colomb, Moritz Maxeiner, Robert Mies, Ana Petrus, Vladimir Milovanović, Mirco Panighel, and Alexander Struck

    Impact: The FAIR4RH IG members within the subgroup FAIR4RH-Definition examined available sources (literature and RH use cases) to propose RH definition that would further benefit the application of FAIR principles to RH which is the main goal of FAIR4RH IG. In broader sense, FAIR4RH IG aims to facilitate and empower dissemination of RH.

    UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): As outlined in the Supporting Output, RH definition is required for the application of FAIR principles for RH which may further facilitate better collaboration according to the UN SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals). The proposed output is a necessary preparatory step into our future  work on the adaptation of FAIR principles for RH that can ultimately be instrumental for enhanced and sustainable production, use and re-use of such hardware which can contribute also to UN SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and UN SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Specifically, open and FAIR RH dissemination relates closely to a larger UN SDG list: 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 4 (Quality Education), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water), and 15 (Life on Land).

    DOI: 10.15497/RDA00105

    Citation: Miljković, N., Colomb, J., Maxeiner, M., Mies, R., Petrus, A., Milovanović, V., Panighel, M., Struck, A., & RDA FAIR Principles for Research Hardware IG. (2024). Research Hardware Definition (Version 2.2). Research Data Alliance. https://doi.org/10.15497/RDA00105

    Abstract: “Research Hardware is a physical object developed as part of or for a research process.” This definition is proposed after reviewing and discussing the literature about the related concept of open (source) hardware, scientific hardware, other hardware in research, and related research outputs. We also discuss the relation between research hardware and its package of (digital) assets that may include hardware design files, software, documentation, and branding. This definition includes research hardware of any complexity, independently of the quality of its documentation package or from its initial or current purpose. In many cases, projects should ascertain objects as research hardware at their own discretion.

    Alexander Struck from Cluster of Excellence “Matters of Activity” chairs this subgroup (e-mail: Alexander.Struck@hu-berlin.de) and served as the Editor of the Research Hardware definition document. Please join the RDA group FAIR Principles for Research Hardware - FAIR4RH to follow our work. The group is free to join and we would love to have you with us.

  • Impact Statement

  • Primary Field or Expertise

    Mathematics

  • Explanation of Sustainable Development Goals

  • Citations

  • Output

    FAIR4RH IG Output Research Hardware Definition_0.pdf

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  • Primary Domain: Natural Sciences
  • RDA Pathways:
  • Group Technology focus: Dissemination
  • Regions:
  • Stakeholders:
  • Sustainable Development Goals:

Daniel S. Katz
This report seems mostly good to me. Three thoughts I had while reading it, which might help the overall IG or might contribute to a future version of this document, are * How much of the concept and implementation of FAIR depends on the object being digital, given that the original FAIR work was aimed explicitly at data, and in a limited way, at all digital objects? I expected more discussion of this, and more about previous work with FAIR related to other non-digital objects, such as in https://journal.code4lib.org/articles/13427 and I think other work related to samples. * Given that research hardware is a physical object with associated digital objects (e.g. design, documentation), should this be recognized in the definition? * And beyond the definition, how is information about these different physical and digital objects linked together in the context of FAIR?