SND's activities

Since the early 1980s, the Swedish National Data Service (SND) has supported researchers in sharing and reusing research data. Our work began on a small scale, focusing on survey data in the social sciences. Today, we support all types of research data across a wide range of scientific fields.  

We develop tools and services 

SND develops tools and services that make it easier for researchers to manage, share, and reuse data. In collaboration with several Swedish research infrastructures, we operate Researchdata.se, a national research data portal where users can search for and access data from a variety of scientific disciplines. The portal is built on data and metadata shared via SND, and also includes datasets and resources from other organizations participating in the collaboration, as well as from external sources. 

Our digital system DORIS enables researchers to describe and share research data via Researchdata.se. The system is designed to facilitate both data sharing and the work of research data support staff who review and quality-assure data descriptions.

To enable the sharing of data that contain sensitive information, several universities have developed secure storage solutions that allow research data to be stored locally and shared via SND without leaving the university. For organizations without such solutions, data that include, for example, personal information can be shared via SND’s repository SND CARE under a data processing agreement. 

We provide training and information 

A key part of SND’s mission is to educate and inform. Through Researchdata.se and the SND website, we offer digital training materials tailored to both researchers and research data support staff. These resources cover the entire research process, addressing topics such as documentation, secure storage, and making data accessible.

We also provide guides and best practices on subjects such as data management plans, recommended file formats, and handling different types of data in line with national and international standards.

As part of our training initiatives, we organize events, workshops, and webinars focused on research data and data management. 

We collaborate nationally and internationally 

SND collaborates with organizations that promote open science and increased access to research data, both in Sweden and internationally. 

Much of our collaboration takes place within the SND Network, which includes most Swedish universities and several other research organizations. SND acts as a central hub, facilitating cooperation through tools, communication platforms, discussion groups, and events. A key aspect of the network is the mutual exchange of knowledge and experience. 

SND is also involved in other national collaborations, working on both short-term projects and long-term strategies, guidelines, and recommendations for research data management. We coordinate efforts such as a national recommendation for persistent identifiers (PID) in research and a common vocabulary for research data management. SND also leads the collaboration behind Researchdata.se and plays a key role in Sweden’s EOSC (European Open Science Cloud) efforts. Together with SUHF and the National Library of Sweden, SND has developed the website Openscience.se, which brings together the most relevant information for Sweden's transition to an open science system. The purpose of this site is to make it easier to gain an overview, navigate, and carry out practical work in open science.

Internationally, SND collaborates with several key organizations, including CESSDA, DataCite, EOSC, and the Research Data Alliance (RDA). We are also actively involved in international development projects, which are an important part of our engagement with other research infrastructures and scientific communities. 

A key player in the transition to open science 

In Sweden, the Swedish Research Council (VR) supports several organizations that promote open data, including SND, which plays a central role in this field. SND and its predecessor, Swedish Social Science Data Service (SSD), have worked to make research data accessible since 1981. In 2009, the current SND was established with a primary mission of ensuring that research data and related materials are accessible, well-preserved, and reusable.