Depositing your data in a trusted repository ensures it remains accessible, citable, and preserved for the long term. Choosing the right repository and file formats is essential to maximise the visibility, impact, and reuse of your research.
When selecting a repository, check that it:
Has credibility in your discipline.
Offers long-term preservation.
Provides metadata support and persistent identifiers (e.g., DOIs).
Has clear licensing and access options.
Institutional
SETU Institutional Repository – coming soon. This will provide a home for datasets linked to SETU research outputs.
IT Carlow Repository: https://research.thea.ie/handle/20.500.12065/2164
WIT Respository: https://repository.wit.ie
General-purpose repositories
Zenodo – EU-funded, integrates with EOSC, assigns DOIs.
Figshare – widely used for a variety of research outputs.
OSF (Open Science Framework) – supports collaboration and data sharing.
Disciplinary repositories
Where possible, use open, non-proprietary formats:
Tabular data: CSV (.csv) instead of XLSX.
Text: TXT (.txt) instead of DOCX.
Images: TIFF (.tif) instead of JPEG.
Audio: WAV (.wav) instead of MP3.
Always keep multiple backups (local, cloud, institutional storage).
Document your preservation strategy in your DMP.
Consider who owns the data and who is responsible for long-term stewardship.
✅ Does it provide persistent identifiers (DOIs)?
✅ Does it meet your funder’s requirements?
✅ Does it support metadata standards?
✅ Is it sustainable and widely used in your discipline?