The annual Shared RDM project meeting took place at Graz University of Technology on 23–24 September. The focus was on how universities can continue to collaborate sustainably even after the official end of the project.

The meeting kicked off with an exciting presentation on the EU project OSTrails, which deals with the DAMAP tool, among other things. Connections to Shared RDM also became clear during the presentation.

An important part of the meeting was the review: the results achieved so far were summarised, the successes highlighted and the next steps for the coming project period outlined. Afterwards, the participants worked together in a moderated session on how the established structures and mechanisms can be continued beyond the end of the project.

The event concluded with a visit to a traditional wine tavern in southern Styria. Regional food and a relaxed atmosphere provided an opportunity for personal exchange. This showed that, in addition to the technical successes, human connections also support the project.

The second day was dominated by breakout sessions. There, concrete ideas for future cooperation were refined and the next steps clearly defined. The day was rounded off with an inspiring lecture on citizen science and its connection to research support services (such as Shared RDM) – an outlook on how research and society can be even more closely intertwined.