Explorer and Pathfinder Tracks for CoreTrustSeal: Assessing the essential characteristics of a Trustworthy Digital Repository

This is a FIDELIS Implementation Story, describing the experiences, lessons learned, and advice from participants in the pilot 'Support for the Adoption of Solutions' support offer "CoreTrustSeal support: Explorer track & Pathfinder track"This Implementation Story describes a structured support offer—Explorer Track and Pathfinder Track for CoreTrustSeal Support—offered as part of the FIDELIS project (FIDELIS Pilot Support Offers), which helped six organisations explore and apply the CoreTrustSeal requirements. Through the two tailored tracks (Explorer for organisations assessing their scope and readiness, and Pathfinder for those already drafting their self-assessments), participants received expert guidance, hands-on feedback, and practical tools for evaluating their repositories against the CoreTrustSeal requirements. The support offer combined workshops, individual consultations, peer exchange, and iterative review, enabling participants to clarify challenges, strengthen documentation, and deepen their understanding of what CoreTrustSeal reviewers expect. The support enhanced participants’ confidence, improved the quality of their self-assessments, and provided a clearer path toward future CoreTrustSeal certification.