In this article, the role of the data curator is defined as “selecting useful data from the data produced by research, distributing them as FAIR data (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable data) so that they can be reused by third parties, and manage and preserve them for the long-term”. It also described the relationship between data curators, RDM services, and data librarians. Based on “Curating Research Data,” published by the Association of College and Research Libraries, the details of practices along the life cycle of data curation were presented. Considering the current situation in Japan, the author proposed that the data curation be divided among (1) subject specialists, (2) librarians, and (3) information technology specialists was proposed, and discussed the human resource development.

Toward the realization of a data-driven society, including the use of AI, and the transformation of science, society, and science and society that more inclusive open science aims to achieve, international movements such as UNESCO, G7, and OECD are gaining momentum, and research data infrastructure development, led by Europe, is progressing. This paper describes the current status of open science policy and domestic and international trends in the utilization of research data, with a focus on academic information distribution, and provides an outlook for academic information distribution services, including those related to reference services.

There are high expectations for data-driven research in the materials field. Recent activities in data-driven materials development are overviewed. Although materials data are not necessarily abundant, data-driven exploration of materials and processes has been expanding its application fields from metals through polymers to inorganic compounds, and has begun to be linked with automated experiments and measurements. Advanced applications such as the exploration of mechanisms and the development of original tools are also in progress. The materials data platform is expected to expand its scope into nationwide in the future.

Research data management (RDM) is positioned as an important process to support research data sharing and publishing in open science. The Institutional Repositories Promotion Committee and its successor, the JPCOAR : Japan Consortium for Open Access Repository, have been working on the development of RDM educational materials for research supporters since 2015 as a way to promote RDM in Japan. In this paper, we introduce the development process of two educational materials, “RDM Training Tool” and “RDM Service : Design and Practice”. Also, we introduce the video teaching materials created in collaboration with the National Institute of Informatics as an example of the use of the two educational materials.

Upon the stipulation of Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research in 2007, universities in Australia have been taking the lead of research data management (RDM) services. This paper explores how they conduct RDM services in university library through experiences with Sydney university library staff in 2017 and 2019. Sydney university has implemented the services such as RDM plan, university policy, platforms and procedures in making research data openly available through RDM site. Also relationship with ANDS is mentioned here.