Terms of Use

1. Introduction

These Terms of Use (“Terms”) define the conditions under which users may access and use the D4Science Infrastructure and the services provided through it.
D4Science is a digital research infrastructure designed to support scientific communities by providing integrated environments where users can manage data, perform analyses, collaborate, and publish research results. These environments, known as Virtual Research Environments (VREs), enable distributed communities to work together using shared tools and resources.
By accessing or using any component of the D4Science infrastructure, users acknowledge that they have read and understood these Terms and agree to comply with them. Users also acknowledge that the infrastructure operates within a broader governance framework composed of multiple policies, which collectively regulate its use.

2. Purpose of the Infrastructure

The D4Science infrastructure has been designed to support the full lifecycle of scientific research. It provides a set of integrated services that allow research communities to create, manage, analyse, and share knowledge in a collaborative digital environment.
Through its Virtual Research Environments, D4Science enables:

• collaborative data analysis and interpretation
• management and sharing of research artefacts
• execution of computational workflows
• publication and discovery of research outputs

The infrastructure promotes the principles of Open Science, encouraging transparency, reproducibility, and responsible sharing of scientific knowledge.

3. Acknowledgement and Citation of D4Science

D4Science is the result of sustained scientific and technological effort and is maintained as a shared research infrastructure. For this reason, users are strongly encouraged to acknowledge the use of the infrastructure in any scientific outputs produced with its support.

Additional guidance on how to cite D4Science, including references to specific services or Virtual Research Environments, is available at: https://www.d4science.org/how-cite

Acknowledging the use of D4Science contributes to the visibility and sustainability of the infrastructure and supports its continued development.

A suggested acknowledgement statement is:
“This work has been enabled by the D4Science infrastructure (https://www.d4science.org - ROR: https://ror.org/027cvs066).”

4. Infrastructure Operator

The D4Science infrastructure is operated by the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) through the Institute of Information Science and Technologies “A. Faedo” (ISTI) located in Pisa, Italy.
The infrastructure is managed by a dedicated operational team, the D4Science Working Group, which is responsible for its design, operation, maintenance, and continuous evolution. The governance of the infrastructure includes an Executive Directorate that provides strategic direction and ensures alignment with scientific and institutional objectives.

5. Definitions

For clarity, the following terms are used throughout these Terms and the associated policy framework.

• D4Science Infrastructure
  A distributed digital research infrastructure providing services, computing resources, and collaborative environments to scientific communities.
   
• Gateway
  A web-based access point through which users authenticate and access infrastructure services.
   
• Virtual Research Environment (VRE)
  A customizable collaborative environment created for a specific research community or project. A VRE acts as a logical security context in which access to services and resources is controlled.
   
• Service
  Any capability provided by the infrastructure, including data management, computational, collaboration, and API-based services.
   
• Research Artefact
  Any digital resource used or produced within the infrastructure to support research activities, including datasets, models, workflows, software, scripts, notebooks, and applications.

6. Scope of the Infrastructure

The D4Science infrastructure provides a wide range of services supporting research activities, including data management, collaborative tools, computational platforms, and programmatic access through APIs.
The infrastructure operates on a distributed model and may integrate resources hosted across:

• infrastructure managed by CNR
• infrastructure provided by GARR
• approved cloud providers

As part of its evolution, the infrastructure periodically updates its services. For example, the DataMiner platform has been replaced by the Cloud Computing Platform (CCP), with legacy support planned until October 2026.

7. Relationship with Other Policies

These Terms are part of the D4Science Policy Framework, which includes several complementary documents addressing different aspects of infrastructure governance.
These include:

• Access and Acceptable Use Policy
• Privacy and Data Protection Policy
• Service Policy
• Security and Incident Response Policy
• Data and Research Artefact Governance and Licensing Policy

By accepting these Terms, users acknowledge that these policies apply to their use of the infrastructure.

8. Eligibility for Access

Access to the D4Science infrastructure is intended for individuals and organizations engaged in research, education, or related activities.
Users typically access the infrastructure through a Gateway and may join one or more Virtual Research Environments, depending on their role and the policies defined by each community.
Each VRE may define its own access rules and participation criteria.

9. User Responsibilities

Users play a key role in ensuring the proper use of the infrastructure. They are expected to use the services responsibly and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
In particular, users must:

• ensure that they have the right to use and share any research artefacts they upload
• respect intellectual property and licensing conditions
• avoid actions that could compromise the security or stability of the infrastructure

Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their credentials and for all activities performed through their accounts.

10. Intellectual Property

Users retain ownership of the research artefacts they upload, create, or manage within the infrastructure.
By using the infrastructure, users grant the operator a non-exclusive licence to process such artefacts solely for the purpose of providing the services.
The infrastructure operator does not claim ownership of user-generated content.

11. Security and Monitoring

The D4Science infrastructure implements security measures designed to protect its systems and users.
These measures include authentication controls, monitoring of system activity, and logging of relevant events. Monitoring activities are carried out in accordance with applicable laws and institutional policies.
The security framework of the infrastructure is aligned with recognized best practices and with the principles introduced by the NIS2 Directive.

12. Service Availability

The infrastructure operator makes reasonable efforts to ensure that services are available and reliable.
However, services are provided on a best-effort basis, and availability may vary depending on operational conditions. Typical availability targets exceed 99.5%, although temporary interruptions may occur due to maintenance or unforeseen issues.

13. Changes to Services

D4Science evolves continuously to meet the needs of research communities and to adapt to technological and regulatory changes.
Services may be updated, replaced, or discontinued over time. When possible, users will be informed in advance of significant changes affecting the services they use.

14. Limitation of Liability

The infrastructure is provided without guarantees regarding uninterrupted availability or the accuracy of results produced through its use.
The operator is not responsible for:

• loss of data
• service interruptions
• inaccuracies in research artefacts
• results generated through computational services

Users remain responsible for validating their results.

15. Termination of Access

Access to the infrastructure may be suspended or terminated in cases such as:

• violation of applicable policies
• security risks
• misuse of services
• prolonged inactivity

Such measures are taken to protect the integrity of the infrastructure and its users.

16. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Italy.

17. Contact

For questions or support requests, users may contact: https://support.d4science.org

18. Policy Framework

This document forms part of the D4Science Policy Framework.