Germany
The SoBigData Germany node is a centre of innovation, research and technology, Germany brings a unique blend of expertise, infrastructure and vision. Its contributions enrich SoBigData’s mission of harnessing big data for societal benefit in a way few other nations can match.
At the heart of this collaboration is Germany’s strength in artificial intelligence (AI) and data science. Institutions like the L3S Research Center and GESIS are pioneers in trustworthy AI, federated learning and big data ethics. These organizations not only bring cutting-edge methodologies but also design ethical frameworks that ensure that SoBigData complies with the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and FACT (Fairness, Accountability, Confidentiality, Transparency) principles.
A German national node would benefit SoBigData for the following reasons:
- Advancing social sciences through Big Data: Germany is leading the paradigm shift towards data-driven social science research. For example, GESIS offers pioneering infrastructures such as the Methods Hub, a platform for sharing AI-based computational methods and resources. Its extensive data collections, such as TweetsKB — a unique archive of a 1% sample of Twitter/X since 2013— - demonstrate a pioneering approach to public data access and independent repositories. These resources are essential for studying social evolution and reducing reliance on commercial gatekeepers.
- Commitment to open science and ethics: Germany’s unwavering commitment to open science and ethical data practices ensures that SoBigData operates transparently and responsibly. German institutions actively contribute to the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) initiatives, promoting a culture of collaboration and adherence to high ethical standards across Europe.
- Shaping disaster prevention and health studies: German researchers excel in applying big data in critical areas such as civil protection and public health. Their work not only enhances SoBigData’s ability to tackle complex societal challenges but also provides actionable insights with global relevance.
- Strategic leadership and collaboration: Germany is at the forefront of the European AI strategy and acts as a link between SoBigData nodes across Europe. Its researchers facilitate cross-border collaboration and ensure that SoBigData thrives as a truly integrated research infrastructure.
- Driving internationalization and innovation: through its involvement in initiatives such as the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI), Germany defines and shapes data strategies at the national and European level. This involvement strengthens SoBigData’s international reputation and enables it to lead global big data governance.
