Survey data from WDS subcommittee on certifications and accreditations used by scientific data repositories

The World Data System (WDS) is committed to fostering and supporting a
global network of members focused on scientific data repositories and data
stewardship. As repositories navigate evolving technologies, growing data
volumes and types, changing user expectations, and closer integration with
scientific workflows—including linking data to scholarly publications,
other data sources, and software to process the data—WDS works to address
the challenges they face. A central role of WDS is to collaborate on
developing best practices, including fostering policies, standards, and
certifications that ensure the reliability and trustworthiness of
scientific data repositories. WDS membership currently requires
maintaining CoreTrustSeal (CTS) certification. However, many members (and
prospective members) have pointed out that the certification process is
complex and time-consuming. In response to these concerns, the Scientific
Committee of WDS formed a subcommittee to examine how extended
certification pathways (alternative certification methods) can reduce
barriers to entry and foster a more inclusive growth of the WDS
membership. To this end, a survey was conducted to identify the
certifications and accreditations currently used by data repositories. The
survey was also intended to explore avenues for extended certification
processes that could make WDS membership more inclusive by lowering entry
barriers. The survey focused on international certifications,
funder-mandated certifications, and disciplinary accreditations,
emphasizing trustworthy digital repository standards rather than
disciplinary interoperability standards. The survey was broadly
distributed and engaged a significant number of stakeholders worldwide.
Results showed a general interest in alternative certification pathways
for WDS membership and specified concerns with certification
hurdles.

世界数据系统（World Data System, WDS）致力于培育并支撑一个以科学数据仓储与数据管护为核心的全球成员网络。随着数据仓储不断应对持续演进的技术、日益增长的数据体量与类型、不断变化的用户期待，以及与科学工作流的深度融合——包括将数据与学术出版物、其他数据源以及数据处理软件进行关联——WDS始终致力于解决其成员面临的各类挑战。WDS的核心职能之一是协作制定最佳实践，包括推动相关政策、标准与认证体系，以保障科学数据仓储的可靠性与可信度。目前，WDS成员资格要求持有CoreTrustSeal (CTS)认证。然而，众多现有成员与潜在成员均指出，该认证流程复杂且耗时。为回应这些关切，WDS科学委员会成立了一个小组委员会，旨在探索拓展认证路径（替代认证方式），以降低准入门槛，推动WDS成员规模更具包容性的增长。为此，本次调研旨在识别当前数据仓储所使用的各类认证与资质认可，同时探索拓展认证流程的可行路径，通过降低准入门槛让WDS成员资格更具包容性。调研聚焦于国际认证、资助方强制要求的认证以及学科领域资质认可，重点关注可信数字仓储标准而非学科互操作性标准。本次调研覆盖范围广泛，吸引了全球大量利益相关方参与。调研结果显示，各方普遍对WDS成员资格的替代认证路径抱有兴趣，并明确表达了对认证准入障碍的担忧。