Digital research data and the associ-ated tools and infrastructure already play an important role in modern research. In particular, interdisciplin-ary collaborative research has special requirements. These are not limited to the area of building and operat-ing software and hardware solutions as tools for improved research data management. It is even more impor-tant that joint research processes and guidelines be developed. Thanks to synergies and reuse, resources for optimizing institutional research data management can be used par-ticularly efficiently, and especially early career researchers benefit from this. In this context, the INF project offers clear added value as a central supporting service for the entire col-laborative project. Ultimately, modern research data management constitutes an impor-tant element of a successful digi-talization strategy for universities, ensures high data quality in the long term and makes various methods of computer-aided research possible in the first place. As a cornerstone for increased networking of research data, it is impossible to imagine future research without it. Although parts of the implementation are still a challenge, the benefits and gains of a successful integration with the research processes are already becoming apparent. In combination with a climate of progress in research policy, it opens up space for a vision of a scientific data environment in which the ‘FAIR’ handling of net-worked research data – from the collection, processing and storage of data to its archiving, publishing and reuse – brings comprehensive added value to society.