So FAIR, so good

The INFN strategy for Data Stewardship

¹ Bologna University - Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, V.le Berti Pichat, 6/2, 40127, Bologna (Italy)
² INFN - Sezione di Bologna, V.le Berti Pichat, 6/2, 40127, Bologna (Italy)
³ INFN - Sezione di Ferrara, Via Saragat, 1, 44122 Ferrara (Italy)
⁴ INFN - CNAF, V.le Berti Pichat, 6/2, 40127, Bologna (Italy)
⁵ INFN - Sezione di Torino, Via Giuria, 1, 10125 Torino (Italy)
⁶ INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, Via Acitelli, 22, 67100 Assergi - L’Aquila (Italy)
⁷ INFN - Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Via Fermi, 54, 00044 Frascati - Roma (Italy)

^* e-mail: lorenzo.rinaldi@unibo.it

Published online: 7 October 2025

Abstract

Large international collaborations in the field of Nuclear and Subnuclear Physics have been leading the implementation of FAIR principles for managing research data. These principles are essential when dealing with large volumes of data over extended periods and involving scientists from multiple countries. Recently, smaller communities and individual experiments have also started adopting these principles. Many universities and research institutions are creating teams of Data Stewards in order to promote the implementation of FAIR principles (such as writing effetive Data Management Plans), particularly for smaller research units. This contribution outlines the strategy adopted by the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) to define the Data Steward profile and make its role suitable for the organization. This initiative is also linked to the Skills4EOSC project, which aims at establishing a network of competence centers for training European researchers and developing new professional roles for managing scientific data.