ELNdataBridge: facilitating data exchange and collaboration by linking Electronic Lab Notebooks via API

Abstract

Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs) have become indispensable tools for modern research laboratories, facilitating data management, collaboration, and documentation of scientific experiments. However, the proliferation of diverse ELN platforms poses challenges for researchers who need to seamlessly exchange data between different systems. In this paper, we present ELNdataBridge, a novel server-based solution designed to address this challenge by providing a flexible adapter for interfacing and synchronising data between disparate ELN platforms. ELNdataBridge leverages Python APIs to interact with the underlying data structures of various ELN systems, enabling smooth transfer of information between them. The system offers a user-friendly interface that allows researchers to map and configure the transfer of single values and entry types between different ELNs, thereby facilitating interoperability and data exchange. The suitability and efficiency of the developed software was shown by a first demonstrator, enabling the exchange of data from Chemotion ELN and Herbie, and therewith the connection of information with a focus on chemistry and materials sciences.

Scientific contribution: To the best of our knowledge, a method enabling the interoperable exchange of information between different ELNs, as described here, has not yet been reported. Given the increasing number of scientists using ELNs and their reliance on discipline-specific platforms, this work proposes a solution to overcome the current limitations related to ELN interoperability.