Towards a National training and community platform for research data professionals

This is the presentation about the RDNL project "A National Training and Community Platform for research data professionals". This presentation was given on 14 September 2026 for the DCC-IN meeting. Summary: The National Training and Community Platform for Research Data Professionals is a four-year initiative (2025-2028), funded by NWO/Open Science NL and coordinated by Research Data Netherlands (DANS, SURF, 4TU.ResearchData, Health-RI). The project aims to strengthen the capacity and professionalization of data stewards and other research data professionals in the Netherlands, contributing to the broader transition to Open Science. Key achievements from the first 18 months of the project include the development and publication of a national competency framework and curriculum for data professionals, the creation of an online training and community platform and the launch of community-building and engagement activities. As we move into the next phase of the project, we would like to share our progress and hear your perspectives on (future) training needs, skills gaps, collaboration opportunities, and the long-term sustainability of the platform. The LDCCs are key partners in the Dutch research data support ecosystem and your experience and insights are invaluable in helping us ensure that the platform meets the needs of the community. Further reading: https://researchdata.nl/ Huijser, D., Schoots, F., Grootveld, M., van Gelder, C. W. G., de Smaele, M., Thorpe, D. E., Saldner, S., & Clare, H. (2026). Curriculum for Data Professionals in Research-Performing Organisations in the Netherlands Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17952685 Schoots, F., Huijser, D., Saldner, S., Thorpe, D. E., Iñigo de la Cruz, L., & Grootveld, M. (2026). Training landscape and gap analysis for research data professionals in the Netherlands. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21338501