Quo Vadis FDM-HAWK?

This presentation offers insights into the FDM-HAWK project which established Research Data Management (RDM) structures at Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) in Thuringia. Launched in 2022 with funding from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space and the European Union (NextGeneration), the project addresses the increasing importance of RDM in applied research. It has set up contact persons or helpdesks for RDM support at each involved UAS, including EAH Jena, Fachhochschule Erfurt, Hochschule Nordhausen, and Hochschule Schmalkalden, for the duration of the funding period. The project team worked closely with the Thuringian Competence Network for Research Data Management (TKFDM). The project has reached several milestones, such as raising RDM awareness, developing local guidelines, and partnering with further relevant RDM interest groups like FDM@HAW and NFDI e. V.. Looking ahead, it emphasizes the necessity of ongoing funding to ensure that research remains competitive. It advocates for the continued presence of (TK)FDM at UAS, consultation, training, and access to state-of-the-art IT and RDM infrastructure. To maintain visibility, active participation of UAS representatives in RDM committees and communities, such as TKFDM, Thuringian Working Group FDM, FDM@HAW and NFDI (e. V.) is vital. This presentation was delivered at the Thuringian RDM-Days "Empowering Research – Tools and Thuringian Practice Examples" on June 18, 2025.The recording is availabe on Youtube.