New charges

New charges for data use at the Research Data Centres of the Statistical Offices of the Federation and the Federal States (RDC) will come into effect on January 1 2026. This is the first adjustment of the charges in 15 years. A significant part of the adjustment serves to compensate for inflation and the overall increase in costs for the RDC. The establishment of the new charge structure will ensure the continued availability and development of a diverse and high-quality range of data and services for researchers. A key milestone in modernizing the RDCs research data infrastructure is the recent establishment of the remote access system. Furthermore, the advisory services have been further digitalised with the introduction of an interactive e-learning (available only in German) covering the RDCs services.

The basic principle of the charges: orientation on efforts

The principle of a single price for all products is being replaced. The new charges structure is based on the efforts that arrise in the Research Data Centres (RDC) for each way of access. These efforts are particularly high for remote execution and particularly low for off-site SUF, as no confidentiality check is required in this case. The promotion of young scientists through substantial discounts will continue, provided the relevant requirements are met.

Off-site SUF can be offered at particularly low charges under the new pricing model, as the RDC is not required to conduct a confidentiality check. Remote SUF and safe centres are in the mid-price range, since users work directly with the data and can review and select results before they are being checked for confidentiality. The highest charges arise for remote execution as this involves not only starting the program codes and correcting syntax errors but also the confidentiality check of a large number of results that will not be needed in the end.

Capping the number of data users

The needs-based and close support of all projects reflects the high service quality of the RDC. To further optimize the consulting and support of projects and to guarantee the best possible service, a cap on the number of data users per project will be implemented from 2026 onwards. 

Please consider the number of data users when submitting your request for access and only list those individuals who will actually be working with the data. Adding users later is possible at any time during the project.

Handling new requests for access, expansions and prolongations before 2026

New requests for access and expansions
Requests for access will be priced according to the existing charges structure if they are submitted via online form by December 31 2025. When the online application is submitted, a timestamp is automatically generated that is accurate to the second and informs the RDC whether the application was submitted on time.
For informal expansion requests submitted via email to the RDC by December 31 2025, the previous charges will also apply.

New requests for access and expansion requests for existing projects received from January 1 2026 onwards will be priced according to the new charges structure. No exceptions or deviations can be made in this matter.

Prolongations
Prolongations of ongoing projects under the old charges structure are only possible if the end of the current contract period is no later than the end of February 2026. The affected projects can then be extended under the existing charges structure if the extension request is received by the RDC by December 31 2025. Ongoing projects whose end date is later than the end of February 2026 or for which a prolongation is requested after December 31 2025 will be priced according to the new charges structure. No exceptions or deviations can be made in this matter.

For further information or in case of questions, the branch office of the RDC of the Federal States, the RDC of the Federation or your supervising RDC location are available as contact persons at any time.