The Research Information System

The collection, storage and processing of meta-information on research in JLU-FIS enables and promotes efficient and sustainable research administration processes. The target groups are in particular the researchers and the deans' offices of the departments, whose administrative duties and activities are simplified by using the system.

Researchers benefit from simplified data collection for the preparation of research reports or third-party funding applications. The provision of data in the research information system simplifies the uniform and systematic presentation of research activities; a correspondingly consistent picture of the Giessen research landscape is recommended, for example, when applying for third-party funding.

The presentation of research activities also makes it possible to search for cooperation partners for research projects. The use of the research information system also reduces multiple queries and relieves researchers and dean's offices of documentation activities.

• Publication import from external databases
• Automatically generated publication lists
• Standardized exports in BibTex format, for example for import into the reference management program Citavi
• Publication import service of the University Library

• Presentation of selected research activities recorded in the research information system for the interested public via a research portal
• Optimization of administrative processes in the third-party funding display
• Generation of dynamic publication lists for the personal website, for departments, institutes and working groups
• Application for reimbursement of publication costs for open access publications
• Generation of CVs from the research information system
• Application for internal research funding

Research information that is stored and processed in JLU-FIS is information about research activities. It is metadata on research projects, the people involved, research funding or results. Research information thus differs from research data that is generated in the research process itself, especially in the form of raw data. The JLU University Library operates the JLUdata research data repository to store research data and the JLUpub repository to store publications.

Integrated research information systems have detailed role and rights systems as well as different levels of visibility of the recorded data. This ensures that only those involved in the administrative process have the rights to access relevant data.

The processing of personal data in JLU-FIS is subject to strict data protection rules.

• Processing Directory for the Doctoral Candidate Management Process
• Processing Directory for the Publication Entry and Management Process
• Role and Permission Concept.
• -> The role and permission concept precisely defines the access rights of the users of the research information system. It ensures that users can only access the information necessary for their activities in the system. The following roles have been defined with specific read and edit rights: "Researcher"; "Doctoral Office"; "Administration"; "Library".

The research information system is being further expanded and continuously optimised. The system is currently in productive operation, enabling the registration and administration of doctoral procedures for the doctoral offices at JLU, as well as the registration and administration of publication metadata for researchers. Projects can also be registered in the FIS (using the ‘Project Management’ module).

Access to the storage facilities for research information is available to all members of JLU who are scientifically active or involved in the processes in an official capacity, in accordance with Login to the internal area of CRIS.

The next stages of expansion are as follows:

CRIS-version 1.2, expectedly in summer 2026

• Mapping of project applications and change notifications for projects
• In the area of doctoral administration => Process for submitting mandatory copies of dissertations to the university library
• Mapping of habilitations
• Mapping of patents
• Mapping of prizes and awards
• Automated transfer of publications affiliated with JLU from Web of Science and OpenAlex

In further expansion stages

• Display of scholarships
• In the area of doctoral administration => Memberships in graduate centres
• Application for reimbursement of publication costs for open access publications
• Generation of CVs from the research information system
• Connection of the JLU-CRIS to OpenAire, the EU's research information system
• Process for reporting third-party funding in accordance with § HessHG via the JLU-CRIS
• Generation of dynamic publication lists for personal websites, departments, institutes and working groups

Justus Liebig University Giessen introduced its research information system in collaboration with ten other partner universities in Hesse. The collaboration was funded by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Art (HMWK) from 2013 to 2020 as part of the HeFIS project; JLU initiated the HeFIS collaboration and led the consortium.

JLU is part of the Hessian consortium ‘Hessian Open Science Portals’, HeOSP. Following the internal rollout of the most important functionalities of the research information system at JLU, the connection to OpenAire and thus a further opening of research meta-information to the outside world is planned. JLU's ‘Giessener Elektronische Bibliothek’ (Giessen Electronic Library) is already a source for OpenAire. With its Open Access Resolution of 2011, the Executive Board of Justus Liebig University supports the principles of open access as described in the Berlin Declaration and the Budapest Open Access Initiative.