Research Network Anonymization for Secure Data Use

Abstract

The Research Network Anonymization for Secure Data Use is an initiative established by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to enhance the secure utilization of research data through advanced anonymization techniques. This network comprises various projects and competence clusters focused on developing methods to protect personal and sensitive information in research datasets, thereby facilitating their broader use while ensuring compliance with legal and ethical standards.

The purpose of the grant allocated to this initiative is to create new viable technologies, processes and methods for anonymization or anonymization within a project duration of typically three years. The initiative plays a pivotal role in advancing the secure and ethical use of research data in Germany, particularly those funded by public sources, by providing the tools and frameworks necessary to balance data accessibility with privacy protection. By developing robust anonymization methods, the network enables the sharing of sensitive datasets without compromising individual privacy or violating legal constraints. This aligns with the principles of making data "as open as possible, as closed as necessary," ensuring that data can be utilized for research and innovation while adhering to data protection regulations.

Overview

Country	Germany
Start date	2021
Annual Budget	€15 M
Responsible organisation(s)	Ministry
Target group(s)	Established researchers|Higher education institutes|Students|Junior researchers|Private R&D|Research support staff|Public research institutes|Students
Policy instrument type	Programme/Initiative

Background

Key funded projects under this initiative include:

- PrivacyUmbrella Project: This project addresses the challenges of anonymizing data in mobile health applications, aiming to protect individual privacy in smart healthcare environments.

- AnigeD (Anonymization for Integrated and Georeferenced Data): Coordinated by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, AnigeD focuses on anonymization strategies for complex, integrated datasets, particularly those that are georeferenced. It operates as an open competence cluster dedicated to researching anonymization techniques for geo-referenced and linked data.

Objective(s)

To enhance data availability while ensuring secure and privacy-compliant data utilization.

To support the development and implementation of advanced anonymization and depersonalization techniques to facilitate the safe sharing of data across various sectors.

Public access URL

https://www.forschung-it-sicherheit-kommunikationssysteme.de/foerderung/bekanntmachungen/anonymisierung

All tags

• Data governance for trust
• Germany
• 2021
• Ministry
• Established researchers
• Higher education institutes
• Students
• Junior researchers
• Private R&D
• Research support staff
• Public research institutes
• Strategies, agendas and plans
• Foster limited forms of access where necessary

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