Using OpenBIS as Virtual Research Environment: An ELN-LIMS Open-Source Database Tool as a Framework within the CRC 1411 Design of Particulate Products

The digital transformation and consequent use of new digital technologies not only have a substantial impact on society and companies, but also on science. Analog documentation as we have known it for centuries will eventually be replaced by intelligent and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) systems. In addition to the actual research data and results, metadata now plays an important role not only for individual, independently existing projects, but for future scientific use and interdisciplinary research groups and disciplines as well. The solution presented here, consisting of an electronic laboratory notebook and laboratory information management system (ELN-LIMS) based on the openBIS (open Biology Information System) environment, offers interesting features and advantages, especially for interdisciplinary work. The Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1411 ‘Design of Particulate Products’ of the German Research Foundation is characterized by the cooperation of different working groups of synthesis, characterization, and simulation, and therefore serves as a model environment to present the implementation of openBIS. OpenBIS, as an open source ELN-LIMS solution following FAIR principles, provides a common set of general entries with the possibility of sharing and linking (meta-)data to improve the scientific exchange between all users.