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The objective of this call for HMC projects is to initiate and facilitate activities that address practical challenges in the field of metadata generation and data enrichment. The call aims at funding promising collaborative projects with the potential to add new knowledge as well as solutions to the wider HMC framework and the Helmholtz FAIR data space, and the potential to sustainably propel the respective metadata community.

Hence, first practical results and promising prototypes are expected in Q1/Q2 of 2027, i.e. one year after the funding starts. The results shall underpin and stimulate the growing HMC network. As part of this, results shall be presented at an HMC conference in 2027. To ensure the project’s link to HMC, all applicants must contact at least one HMC metadata hub and/or the technology unit FAIR Data Commons when considering a proposal submission (see below for contacts and formal regulations).

An HMC project addresses one or more of these overarching goals:

• Further metadata generation with interoperable, high quality metadata standards, vocabularies, semantics and/or ontologies.

• Adopt or develop tools for data enrichment (e.g. automated metadata generation for recording dataset descriptions and workflows), metadata quality assessment and/or curation.

• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration between metadata experts and domain scientists; collaborations between Helmholtz research fields are encouraged.
  

All projects are expected to contribute to the establishment of a Helmholtz FAIR data space. This can be demonstrated amongst other things, through linking data assets via relevant technologies or by working towards innovative recommendations for policy and practice

HMC welcomes proposals in all areas relevant to metadata.

The following list exemplifies key areas of particular interest to HMC (in no particular order):

Novel strategies for the automatic generation or exchange of metadata.
Suggestions for use cases include:

• Harmonization of machine interfaces for data base and repository ingest/exchange.

• Connection to the Helmholtz FAIR data space:
  Application of FAIR Digital Objects (FDO) in scientific workflows.
  Implementing prerequisites for metadata harvesting to the Helmholtz Knowledge Graph (KG).

• Maintaining (meta)data from orphaned data, for example in case of decommissioned infrastructure or retiring staff.

• Exposure of metadata and harvesting from pre-existing data sources, for example machine-actionable data management plans, workflow tools, or instruments.

The innovative integration and/or application of persistent identifiers (PIDs) in diverse contexts.
This could include:

• Integration of PIDs in the research workflow, for example samples/specimens.

• Automatic generation of PID graphs.

• The application of FDOs.

• Reuse of data enabled by Research Object (RO) crates.

Approaches to achieve metadata interoperability.
Potential topics include:

• Interfaces between metadata generating tools, for example electronic lab notebooks.

• Crosswalks between metadata schemata, ontologies, or other semantic artefacts.

• Agile approaches to the development, extension, or alteration of existing schemata.

The call for applications is open to all employees of the Helmholtz Association. An application must be submitted by partners from at least two different Helmholtz Centres (or two AST programmes respectively); external partners are possible.

20.03.2025, 10:00-12:00h: More information here, registration here.

04.04.2025, 11:30-13:30h: More information here, registration here.

During our information events you have the opportunity to:

• Get more information on the call,

• Get in touch with our HMC Metadata Hubs and FAIR Data Commons,

• Ask questions,

• Meet potential project partners.

• Pitch your project idea.

Please indicate at your registration if you would like to pitch your project idea in 1-2 minutes.

HMC Project Proposals must be submitted via the Project Proposal Portal.
The HMC Call 2025 (PDF) can be found here.
All further material (including relevant templates) can be downloaded here.

For formal questions concerning the HMC project call, please write to
project-proposal(at)helmholtz-metadaten.de to reach the HMC Office and the Helmholtz Association's Head Office.

For formal questions concerning running projects, please write to project-office(at)helmholtz-metadaten.de.

For topic-related questions, please contact your relevant HMC Hub.