What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to create a common metadata framework to enhance interoperability for FAIR Digital Objects in the German National Research Data Infrastructure.

April 12, 2026Open Access

Towards a Common Metadata Framework for FDOs in NFDI

Key Points

The aim is to create a common metadata framework to enhance interoperability for FAIR Digital Objects in the German National Research Data Infrastructure.
Mapping DataCite metadata properties to kernel attributes using a selected Kernel Information Profile (KIP).
Implementing schema-level alignment and a governed mapping layer with curated services.
Using shared terminology services to ensure machine-actionable transformations.
Developed a framework that operationalizes FDO interoperability within existing metadata infrastructures.
Facilitated transparent and versioned metadata transformations across different platforms.

Abstract

Poster: 3rd FAIR Digital Objects Conference-2026 The implementation of FAIR Digital Objects (FDOs) within the German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) requires practical mechanisms that allow existing persistent identifiers (PIDs) and metadata infrastructures to interpret and exchange FDO-compliant information in an interoperable manner 1. In the FDO model, a PID resolves to a machine-readable PID information record containing kernel metadata expressed as typed key-value pairs, where keys reference type definitions and the admissible set of kernel entries is governed by a Kernel Information Profile (KIP) 2, 3. In practice, however, many DOIs still resolve to human-oriented landing pages, limiting predictable machine processing and automated decision-making 4. Within NFDI, the DataCite metadata schema is one of the most widely adopted generic metadata standards 5. Leveraging this established infrastructure while introducing FDO concepts provides a pragmatic path toward interoperability while avoiding fragmentation of the PID ecosystem. This proposal presents a common metadata framework that operationalises FDO interoperability via two complementary strategies:(1) mapping DataCite metadata properties to a minimal set of kernel and optional attributes as defined by an explicitly selected KIP, and(2) expressing the entire DataCite schema as FDO-defined attributes and profiles in a type registry. The first strategy is implemented through (i) schema-level alignment, (ii) a governed mapping layer using JSKOS/SSSOM curated in Cocoda and/or MSCR, and (iii) shared terminology services via TS4NFDI, ensuring transparent, versioned, and machine-actionable transformations and lookups 6. References: 1] El-Gebali, S. (2024). Concepts for metadata interoperability, harmonization and technical integration of PID infrastructure (1.0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14506138 2] Daan, B., Peter, W., Ivonne, A., & Karsten, P.-. von G. (2023). FDO – Kernel Attributes & Metadata. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8009739 3] Soiland-Reyes, S., Goble, C., & Groth, P. (2023). Evaluating FAIR Digital Object and Linked Data as distributed object systems. https://arxiv.org/pdf/2306.07436 4] Czerniak, A., Castro, L. J., Fliegl, H., Grieb, J., Henzen, C., Koepler, O., Moore, J., Söding, E., Stervbo, U., Trippel, T., & Wiljes, C. (2025). Building Bridges through Metadata within the NFDI. Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16735956 5] coli-conc - Cocoda. (2025). Coli-Conc.gbv.de. https://coli-conc.gbv.de/cocoda 6] terminology-service-suite. (2025). Base4nfdi.de. https://terminology.services.base4nfdi.de/tss

Towards a Common Metadata Framework for FDOs in NFDI

Key Points

Abstract

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