FAQ Open Science & Research Output Deposit on the UCLR Catalog
General Information
What is a research output?
A research output is a structured set of information collected or generated during research. Good structuring makes it easier to use, understand, and reuse by other researchers.
Why should I deposit my research output in a repository?
Depositing your research output ensures its preservation, accessibility, and reuse by other researchers. It also guarantees better traceability and transparency of scientific results. Depositing research output is increasingly required for funding and aligns with open science requirements.
Research Output Deposit
You can consult the Research Output Sudmission Guide for more information.
How do I know if my research output is ready to be deposited?
Research output deposit is done by the researcher when appropriate. Research output can be deposited at any stage: raw, structured, analyzed, or interpreted.
Before depositing, ensure the research output is well documented (complete metadata), has an appropriate license, and is in an open format aligned with research output sharing best practices.
To learn more about metadata, click here.
To learn more about licenses, click here.
Can I deposit multiple files in one deposit?
Yes – one deposit can contain multiple files, up to 100 files maximum.
What are the size and file number limits for a deposit?
A single deposit can contain up to 10 GB of research output with a maximum of 100 files, no file exceeding 5 GB. However, for large volumes (e.g., over 5 GB per file), contact the UCLR team beforehand.
Is there a manual review of deposited research outputs?
No – The UCLR catalog does not have curators (curation means checking research output compliance with rules). It’s each person’s responsibility to check their research output before publishing (accuracy, transparency, license...).
Hosting, Storage, and Deletion
Where is my research output hosted?
Files in a draft deposit form are hosted on a server at La Rochelle University. This "draft" space is temporary and not intended for permanent storage.
Published metadata records without repository deposit are hosted internally at La Rochelle University in its catalog.
If a repository is selected, the research output is hosted in that repository. A full version of the metadata is saved in the La Rochelle University catalog, and a version adapted to the repository fields is saved with the research output in the repository.
How much storage space is available for my research output?
Each user has a storage quota for drafts. Contact us if you need more space.
What happens if I exceed the storage limit for my research output?
Adding new files is blocked.
Can I delete my deposited research outputs?
No – If the research output is deposited in a repository, deletion is not possible.
If the research output has a metadata record in the catalog, contact us.
Metadata
You can consult the Deposit Guide for more information.
What is metadata and why is it necessary?
Metadata is descriptive information about a research output (title, author, date, description, format, etc.). It ensures traceability, facilitates search, and enables reuse of research output.
The metadata schemas used in UCLR deposits follow the target repository standards, ensuring their interoperability and compliance with current norms.
What information must I provide in the metadata?
Metadata must include at minimum the required fields marked with an (*)
2. A clear description
3. A scientific domain
4. A theme
5. Keywords
6. A contact and author
7. The research output type
8. A usage license
Do I need to complete all metadata fields?
Only the 8 fields listed above are mandatory. However, it is recommended to fill out as much metadata as possible to ensure good understanding and reuse of the research output. The more complete the metadata, the more easily findable, usable, and interoperable the research output will be.
License and Embargo
You can consult the Deposit Guide for more information.
Which license should I choose for my research output?
Etalab 2.0 and Creative Commons licenses are the most commonly used in research. Ensure the selected license matches your desired usage conditions.
Etalab 2.0 is the license recommended by the government.
Can I change the license after publishing my research output?
Yes – it is possible to change the license after publication if allowed by the repository.
What is an embargo and why add one to my files?
An embargo allows metadata to remain visible while restricting file access until a set date (e.g., after a scientific publication, during an ongoing project…).
What is the maximum embargo duration?
The maximum embargo period is 18 months.
Can I modify the embargo end date after publication?
No – Once published, the embargo date cannot be modified or removed.
Annexes
Which annexes should I provide when depositing research output?
No annex is mandatory. However, it is recommended to add all information that can help understand and index the research output. For example, the name, acronym, and link of the originating project can be useful.
What should a README file contain?
The research output structure and usage instructions. A template is available on Recherche Data Gouv.
How can I provide information about the code used to process the research output?
A README file with information on how to install the code or its dependencies and run it is recommended.
Publication and Visibility
How will my research output be published?
Once validated, your research output will be published with a metadata record accessible via the UCLR catalog. If you selected a repository, your files and metadata will also be published there.
Who can see my research output after publication?
If your research output is not under embargo, it is accessible to all users of the catalog.
Can I modify my research output after publication?
It is possible to modify my research output, and a new version of the research output is created for each modification.
How will other users find my research output in the repository?
Research output warehouses offer search interfaces, and are also indexed by search engines (Qwant, Google...).