the Research Data Centres of the German Federal Statistical Office and the Statistical Offices
of the Lander.5
The Research Data Centre’s work focuses on further development of the access routes,
anonymity methodology and conceptional development. In order to strengthen its anchoring
in the scientific community, the research data centre is strongly present at relevant
conferences (e.g. Statistische Woche, Jahrestagung des Vereins für Socialpolitik, Kongress
der DGS). It also offers its staff the possibility to gain PhDs using the research data centre’s
resources, via two-thirds contracts.
3.2 Research Data Centre of the Statistical Offices of the Lander
The Research Data Centre of the Statistical Offices of the Lander took up work on 1 April
2002. Up to 2003, it focused on solving basic issues concerning funding, data access and
conditions for use. The research data centre has been funded by the BMBF since the
beginning of 2004. Its core task is to provide easier access to the individual data of the
statistical offices of the Lander for scientific research. In order to realise this task, a regional
infrastructure was set up, enabling nationwide access to official microdata for the scientific
community in 16 regional locations. Moreover, a centralised data administration was
established, which makes inter-regional use of the microdata of the Statistical Offices of the
Lander simpler6.
The Research Data Centre of the Statistical Offices of the Lander was evaluated in
October 2006. The assessors gave a positive evaluation of the services and recommended
extending the project funding and establishing the research data centre on a permanent basis.
The project’s term was thus extended up to the end of 2009 on the basis of a new funding
application. The second project phase focuses on integrating economic and environmental
statistical data, implementing knowledge transfer at university level and improving ease of
access to the regional locations by setting up branch offices at universities and other scientific
institutions. The Research Data Centre of the Statistical Offices of the Lander is also working
towards establishing its services on a permanent basis.
The activities of the Research Data Centre of the Statistical Offices of the Lander have
lead to a broad range of microdata on various subjects for the scientific community. A total of
over 60 statistics are currently available for use in academic research projects from the fields
of social issues, the economy, agriculture, the environment, justice administration and
5 For further information, see Zwick (2007)
6 For further information, see Zühlke et al. (2004) and Zühlke/Christians/Cramer (2007).