Services
As contact persons for project planning, the application process, as well as for the start of project implementation, please contact:
- Research Management and Services: Thomas Russold-Pessl
- UB Graz, Research Data Management: Helmut W. Klug
Help and training
Micro data are individual, anonymized, low-level datasets that provide insights into the behavior, characteristics, and attributes of individual persons, households, or businesses. With the Austrian Micro Data Center (AMDC), Statistics Austria provides micro data for scientific research. Access to the data via remote access is restricted to researchers actively employed at accredited research institutions. The University of Graz is considered an accredited research institution until 01.09.2028.
Since these databases are highly sensitive data, both the application for and the actual data access are strictly regulated. Detailed information on this can be found on the AMDC pages, in summary:
- Data access is only possible on site (Safe Center at Statistik Austria) or via remote access.
- Data use is only possible within the framework of research projects that are limited in terms of content and duration.
- The data do not leave the AMDC; researchers can only use data analyses.
- The research output has to be submitted to Statistik Austria for control.
- The use of the services is subject to a fee.
- A user contract must be concluded for the use of services and data.
- In order to guarantee the security of the data during remote access, certain technical and organizational measures (TOM) must be fulfilled, and institutions as well as researchers must sign declarations of commitment to comply with them.
An alternative to the micro data, which must be selected and compiled for each research question in the interest of data minimization, is the acquisition of already generated Scientific Use Files, which contain pre-selected anonymized statistical microdata.
In order for AMDC data to be used in a research project, a data access request must be submitted by the primar investigator(!) (PI) This request must be submitted online via a request portal; prior registration with this portal is required. The application will be reviewed by Statistik Austria within one month, whereupon an offer for the arising costs will be made and a contract of use will be prepared. Such an application must contain detailed information on the research project, as well as a precise description of the statistical data required. Detailed information on this can be found in the FAQ on microdata use in the section "Questions on access request":
- What all must an online access request for a specific research project contain?
- What information about the research project must a request for online access contain?
In the course of planning your project, we recommend that you read the following pages in detail:
The organizational process at the University of Graz includes the following steps:
- PI contacts FMS and UB for possible assistance.
- Application for the research project is finalized in terms of content.
- Application for access to the AMDC is submitted: If the research project is a third-party funding application with a lengthy approval process (e.g., FWF), it must be pointed out that, on the part of the AMDC, the preparation of a rough cost estimate (Grobkostenabschätzung) is sufficient for the time being.
- Application process at AMDC is ongoing; the application will be processed within one month.
- Offer / rough cost estimate for data access is placed by AMDC. These are time-limited.
- (If a third-party funded project with AMDC access is approved, the application process for AMDC access may need to be restarted after / at the start of the granted project.
- Offer is accepted, a cooperation agreement is signed.)
- The exact implementation of the technical and organizational measures is fixed in writing between the dean's office and the PI.