Publishing data and making it available for others can be an intimidating process. In this presentation we describe some general principles for sharing research data, and highlight Zenodo as a general-purpose repository suitable for publishing many different types of data. We give an overview of the core features of Zenodo and walk through a demonstration of how to create and publish a dataset. Finally, we explain how Zenodo Communities, with a particular focus on the Ghent University Research Data Community and the European Open Research Repository, allow support staff to curate data before publication, thereby giving researchers greater confidence that their data will be findable, accessible, and reusable.

In 2023, Ghent University, Hasselt University, University of Antwerp, and Vrije Universiteit Brussel initiated the FAIRVault project to provide researchers with a secure, FAIR-aligned (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) generic solution for preserving and providing (controlled) access to research data. It targets cases where external repositories are less feasible, such as for sensitive or large datasets, ensuring data retention and security.

In this session, we will walk you through the path that led to the current Minimum Viable Product of the FAIRVault: the motivations of certain choices and the challenges encountered along the way. We will also give a short demo to showcase the product and the functionalities it has so far.

It is important to note that FAIRVault is still under development and not open for the general use. However, interested researchers from the participating universities will be invited to register as potential testers after the session.

The idea of FAIR data is often equated to open data, which is a misconception, as sensitive data can be made FAIR without it necessarily being made openly available as this isn’t always possible or allowed. 

During this session we’ll discuss how sensitive data can be made FAIR and therefore reusable while also remaining well-protected. We’ll discuss how to prepare sensitive data for publication and what to keep in mind and consider before publishing such data. This is followed by an exploration of where what kinds of data can be published under what circumstances and what kinds of protections are available. We'll also show an example of how access requests to restricted data work from the requester’s and the provider’s side. By publishing data with the necessary protections (e.g. anonymisation, restricted access), sensitive data can be made as FAIR as possible.

This session has two parts:

• Making Qualitative Data Reusable: An Updated Guidebook by Ricarda Braukmann

DANS, the Dutch national centre of expertise and repository for research data, has a large collection of interviews, in particular oral history data. To help researchers who work with such qualitative data and want these data to become available for reuse, DANS developed a guidebook specifically for qualitative data. In this presentation, Ricarda Braukmann, Data Station Manager at DANS, will take you through the guidebook which moves through every step of the research life cycle and outlines what actions you can take to improve the reusability of qualitative data. In particular, the presentation will highlight new recommendations that have been added to the guidebook in a brand-new revision published early 2026. 

• Making Qualitative Data Reusable: A Case Presentation and Reflection by Noémie Aubert Bonn

In this presentation, Noémie will share a concrete example showcasing how she shared qualitative data as part of her PhD work. The presentation will discuss what was done and what steps were required in the qualitative data sharing process. In the presentation, Noémie will also reflect on lessons learned, things she would do differently in the future, and ongoing challenges with new risks of using artificial intelligence tools in data transcription and analysis that require careful considerations.

The presentation outlines the possibilities offered by The Social Study, a pluridisciplinary research infrastructure funded by the FWO, the FNRS and Statistics Flanders, and co-owned by the 10 Belgian universities. It enables the collection of high-quality survey data. The Social Study consists of a panel of 5000 Belgian residents surveyed every eight weeks online and offline, with a probability sample enabling conclusions to be drawn at population level. It is a valuable tool for all researchers interested in survey data at Belgian level. Research teams can apply to field their own survey (against payment), which are reviewed by TSS Scientific Committee and implemented by TSS staff. One can also download TSS datasets available open access on SODHA, for research or pedagogical purposes.

You've probably already seen them in articles, sometimes under other names –  'Data Access Statement', 'Data Archiving Section', 'Availability of data and materials' or simply 'Data Statement' – but maybe you aren't sure what they are or why some journals insist on including them. Let's clear that up! 
These are short parts of an article, report or other publication which let you clearly show the reader what data you used or relied on and where to find/access it, making your work FAIRer, more trustworthy and more (re)useable.
Together, we'll go over why a good Data Availability Statement matters, how to write them, how to use them and why you should you include one in all of your publications!

Research software is often characterized by interdependence, where software builds upon other software, and by a dynamic nature that requires regular updates to remain functional. Therefore, it can be considered a special type of research data that requires its own specific management. This session addresses the management of software you develop at the point where the beginning and end of the research software lifecycle meet. This involves both reusing existing code to adapt or expand upon, as well as sharing and publishing your code for others to use. For both, it is important to consider the use of a software license. As with research data, applying a license to software is essential to enable sharing and to allow others to use your code on your own terms. We will cover the types of licenses specific to software and the differences between choosing an open-source or a proprietary license.

Effective data handover is critical for research continuity, reproducibility, and compliance with institutional and funder requirements. Yet, when researchers leave, essential knowledge often disappears, leading to scattered files, missing metadata, and costly delays.  

This presentation explores why research data is frequently lost and the risks this poses for scientific progress. Drawing on real-world examples and evidence, we highlight common pitfalls and cultural, technical, and policy gaps that exacerbate the problem. 

We then discuss KU Leuven’s approach as a use case on how to mitigate these risks through infrastructure, clear policies, and practical tools with a focus on the Researcher Exit Checklist. This checklist provides a structured process for transferring responsibility, cleaning and organizing data, and ensuring compliance with ethical and legal requirements. 

Besides responsibly transferring data to others, the session will also discuss responsible reuse of data made available by others. We’ll discuss how and where to find data, but also what to pay attention to when reusing data, such as license compliance and implications on future publication of derivative data. 

The session ends with real-life examples of the power of research data reuse and novel unique dataset creation in the protein field (respectively AlphaFold and Start2Fold). 

During Love Data Week, we celebrate all the things that help research data thrive: good planning, responsible collection, thoughtful sharing, long-term care, and sustainable reuse. At Meise Botanic Garden, we’ll bring a biodiversity-flavoured twist to this romantic storyline.

This one-hour session highlights how biodiversity data, rooted in centuries-old specimens and blooming in cutting-edge digital infrastructures, fits naturally within the themes of the week. Through three projects (DiSSCo Flanders, OneSTOP, and B-Cubed), we’ll explore how data moves across the research data lifecycle. This session invites you to discover how biodiversity data infrastructure works with researchers, not around them, and how a little more LOVE for your data can help it travel further, live longer, and make a real difference.

Curious about data papers and why they’re gaining traction in research? This session offers a clear and practical introduction to this innovative publication format. Lyubomir Penev, managing director and founder of Pensoft Publishers, opens the session with an overview of what data papers are and how they can boost visibility, credit, and reuse of research data. It will then feature presentations from three researchers who have published data papers, sharing their experiences and insights into the process, benefits, and challenges: 

• Pieter-Paul Verhaeghe (VUB) — Social and Behavioural Sciences

• Nima Roshandel (VUB, KUL, imec) — Manufacturing Engineering and Human-Robot Interaction

• Mohammad Hasan Rahmani (UAntwerp, imec IDLab) — Physiological and motion data 

Ideal for anyone considering their first data paper or looking to maximize the impact of their datasets, this session will leave attendees with a solid understanding of why data papers matter and how they can advance open science practices.