On April 15, 2026, the Kassenhalle at Forum am Domshof in Bremen became the central gathering place for northwest Germany’s research data community. Research Data Day, hosted by the U Bremen Research Alliance and the DataNord Data Competence Center, was fully booked and brought together representatives from academia, government, and industry.
The event focused on data initiatives in the Bremen-Oldenburg region and on how effective, responsible research data management can lay the groundwork for innovation, artificial intelligence, and evidence-based decision-making in society. One thing became clear: Northwest Germany has a closely connected, high-performing research data ecosystem that is being developed collaboratively across institutional boundaries.
With keynote talks, the presentation of the 2026 Data Champion Award, and a panel discussion, the event offered a platform for exchange and strategic networking. The strong interest reflects the growing importance of the topic — and at the same time highlights what sets Bremen-Oldenburg apart as a research region: a strong culture of collaboration, close connections, and a shared commitment to developing data-driven solutions to major challenges of the future.
Further impressions from the evening event
- Joint Press Release
with the Senator for the Environment, Climate, and Science on Research Data Day 2026, published on April 17, 2026.
- Interactive map of the Northwest Data Space
The Northwest region has established a robust research data hub, which is illustrated in the two-part overview graphic below.
- These are the Data Champions of 2026
The Data Champion Award 2026 goes to Dr. Anne Speer and Charlotte Brandhorst, both from the University of Bremen / Research Institute Social Cohesion, as well as Leonie Wolfrath from the University of Mannheim.
Cooperating in U Bremen Research Alliance:
