As part of the HALiance project, the CCSD set out to obtain CoreTrustSeal certification for the HAL platform. This certification was officially achieved on 14 February. It is the result of a collective effort involving all CCSD teams, each contributing at different levels to ensure the success of this initiative.
What is CoreTrustSeal certification?
CoreTrustSeal certification is an international recognition that a data repository meets high standards of reliability, accessibility and long-term preservation. It assures users that deposited data is managed transparently, sustainably and in accordance with best practices established by the scientific community. The process requires a self-assessment (see previous post) based on a number of criteria, which is then reviewed anonymously by two certified experts.
Achievements
While HAL already met many of the criteria, the certification required to increase transparency by documenting our processes and technical operations online. To meet this requirement, we created the [about.hal.science] website, which centralises key information such as CCSD governance, the operation of our infrastructure, and the technical and legal verification process. The various HAL documentation resources have allowed us to highlight certain aspects of our operations and our compliance with the FAIR principles.
We have implemented changes to achieve certification of our repository. These include adopting the new version of the OpenAIRE Guidelines for Literature Managers v4 to improve the harvesting of our OAI-PMH repository, establishing data backups in an Inria data centre to increase resilience, and implementing new file security processes. These developments have improved the long-term management of HAL’s data and metadata. The certification process requires anticipating future needs by identifying the necessary developments to further improve the repository.
Upcoming actions
Several actions are planned for the near future to ensure the long-term quality and reusability of the data. As outlined in the CCSD’s 2025 Action Plan, the implementation of a mandatory licence for deposits in HAL is a key and explicit requirement of the CoreTrustSeal to enhance document reuse. In addition, the introduction of a metadata history, as planned in WP4 of HALiance, is another forthcoming development to ensure better tracking of metadata within the repository.
Achieving CoreTrustSeal certification is an important milestone that demonstrates our commitment to data quality and reliability. This process not only strengthens our credibility, but also helps us to improve our internal practices and better serve our users.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the members of the CCSD, past and present, for their invaluable contributions, as this achievement is the result of the dedication and commitment of all our teams and members.
Corentin Faye (Data steward)