The partnership between Jagiellonian University and PCG Academia has been developing since 2019 and encompasses successive stages of digitizing research information management—from organizing data for evaluation purposes, through the implementation of Sciencecloud-class solutions, to the development of a DSpace-based repository. These efforts have created a cohesive environment for working with research and publication data, serving as a starting point for further development.

New Phase: Implementation of a CRIS-Class System

Today we are launching the next phase of cooperation between PCG Academia and Jagiellonian University, which involves the implementation of the DSpace CRIS system—a Current Research Information System (CRIS)-class solution that extends the functionality of a traditional repository to include comprehensive scientific information management.

The new project will include updating the current system to the latest version of DSpace CRIS, developing the user interface, expanding functionality, migrating and organizing data, and integrating with internal and external systems. Another key element will be the development of reporting and search mechanisms, as well as preparing users to work in the new environment. The project is planned to be implemented in phases and will last up to 12 months from the signing of the contract, no later than February 2027.

What are CRIS systems and why do universities invest in them?

CRIS-class systems are solutions designed for the central collection, management, and sharing of information on research activities—including publications, research projects, grants, patents, data on researchers, and international collaborations. Unlike traditional repositories, CRIS integrates data from multiple sources and supports both reporting processes (e.g., evaluation, ranking, reporting) and building the visibility of research on a global scale.

In recent years, leading universities around the world have been investing heavily in such solutions. For example, the University of Zurich is developing a system based on DSpace CRIS for the ZORA repository, integrating data on publications and researchers into a single platform. The University of Oxford uses advanced scholarly information systems for research data management and reporting, while Harvard University is investing in the development of tools that support open science and the visibility of its researchers’ scholarly output.

The main reasons for these investments are consistent worldwide: growing reporting and evaluation requirements, the need to integrate dispersed data, support for open science strategies, and increasing the international visibility of research output. CRIS systems are now becoming one of the key elements of the digital infrastructure of modern universities.

Project co-financed by the EU

The implementation is carried out as part of the project “Digitization and digital reconstruction of cultural collections using artificial intelligence and the development of tools for integrated access to digital information at the Jagiellonian University,” co-financed by the European Union under the European Funds for Małopolska 2021–2027 program.

The project is part of a broader trend in the development of the university’s digital infrastructure, combining research management with access to and dissemination of knowledge resources.