The Committee on Scientific Library Services and Information Systems (AWBI) is a sub-committee of the Joint Committee which advises the DFG on all projects and initiatives to develop and promote the provision of scientific information. It has 18 members representing the full thematic spectrum of scientific information infrastructures and the various scientific disciplines. Both the providers and users of infrastructures are represented on the committee.

The AWBI discusses current requirements relating to scientific information infrastructures, responds to new developments and identifies areas requiring development or further development through targeted funding initiatives. The committee's strategic proposals are set out in the strategy paper approved by the DFG Senate in July 2012, "Taking Digital Transformation to the Next Level: The Contribution of the DFG to an Innovative Information Infrastructure for Research". All proposed measures are designed to optimise access to scientifically relevant information, research data and work and communication platforms, and make this access as open as possible. They are based on the DFG's commitment to the Open Access paradigm.

The AWBI plays an advisory role with respect to the DFG's national and international partnerships in the field of information infrastructure. These include the Digital Information Initiative of the Alliance of German Science Organisations and the DFG's membership of the Knowledge Exchange network and Science Europe.

To provide expert preparation and support, especially for consultations on funding strategy and funding policy issues, the AWBI can appoint expert committees or ad hoc working groups for a defined period of time.

Further Information

• Members of the Committee
• Data tracking in research: aggregation and use or sale of usage data by academic publishers (October 2021)
• Funding Information Infrastructures for Research. A DFG Strategy Paper (March 2018)
• Taking Digital Transformation to the Next Level - The Contribution of the DFG to an Innovative Information Infrastructure for Research (July 2012) (german)