OREANDA-NEWS.  October 23, 2014. In the framework of the DataCite Estonia project, the first hundred unique DOI (Digital Object Identifier) numbers were assigned to the research data in the databank of QSAR models (QsarDB) created at the Institute of Chemistry of the University of Tartu.

Quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSAR) are important tools for describing and assessing the properties of chemical compounds in chemistry and related fields (biochemistry, biotechnology, environmental risk assessment, etc.)                      
        
The databank of QSAR models (QsarDB) created at the UT Institute of Chemistry is an open web environment for uploading the researched relationships, mathematically presented according to the established standards, which have already been published in research papers. “We have already applied the so-called uniform source characteristics for several years. The addition of the DOI code as a more widely used technology gives us a better opportunity to cite the models archived in the databank; it makes the related research articles interactive and traceable and the raw research data accessible in an easy-to-use format. We, the creators of the QsarDB, are happy that the first DOI numbers assigned in Estonia were given to our work,” said the Senior Research Fellow of the UT Institute of Chemistry Uko Maran.

The University of Tartu joined the DataCite organisation this year, becoming the only organisation in Estonia with the right to assign the unique DOI numbers to single objects and data collections. The DataCite Estonia project will develop a web-based platform for the registration of research data and establish a consortium that can be joined by all Estonian universities and research and development institutions. The DataCite Estonia project, jointly coordinated by the UT Library and the UT Natural History Museum, is unique in Estonia and also in Eastern Europe. It will significantly contribute to making the Estonian research data visible and accessible to the international scientific community.

A seminar discussing the problems of open data will be held at the Conference Hall of the University of Tartu Library on 23 October at 13.00. The aim of the seminar is to give an overview of new trends in open research data publication and to introduce the DataCite Estonia project.  UT researchers, experts and science policy makers, as well as renowned specialists in the field from the UK, Germany and Canada, will give presentations and participate in the panel discussion.

Information and registration: http://www.utlib.ee/openaccess/eng.

Preparations for and the creation of the DataCite Estonia platform were financed according to the agreement on the use of state budget support no 1.4-6/14/2 between the Estonian Research Council and the University of Tartu.