openBIS
openBIS brings research data management, a digital lab notebook, and inventory management for samples and protocols into one system.
What openBIS is
openBIS brings research data management, a digital lab notebook, and inventory management for samples and protocols into one system. It connects experimental records with data in any size or format, using a web interface or API. Its notebook links experiments to materials, samples, and procedures in the inventory, where teams can track lab supplies and share experimental procedures. For distributed large datasets, BigDataLink links files across locations with a git-like tool while openBIS serves as the metadata repository. The system supports Excel import and export, and lab notebooks and inventory folders can be exported to Excel and PDF. User profiles and access privileges help manage access, while database changes are tracked. Jupyter notebooks can be used with openBIS, and its APIs can connect workflow managers for cluster analysis. It is open source under the Apache Licence 2.0, with Linux, web, API, and self-hosted options. Cloud hosting through openRDM.swiss stores data in Switzerland; local institutional hosting can also be agreed.
Good
- Connects experiments to data of any size and format.
- Tracks materials, samples, and shared procedures.
- BigDataLink connects large datasets across locations.
- Exports notebooks and inventory folders to Excel and PDF.
- Open source under the Apache Licence 2.0.
Watch out
- Email support is described as best effort.
- Swiss cloud hosting is offered through openRDM.swiss.
Who it suits
It suits experimental research groups that need to connect experimental data, samples, protocols, and lab records. The openRDM.swiss service is aimed at research groups in Swiss universities and research institutes.
Verdict
openBIS combines experiment records, inventory, and research data management, with tools for linking large datasets and exporting lab information. Research groups can choose self-hosting or consider the openRDM.swiss hosting service.
The facts
Each one read from openBIS's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Access and audit
- openBIS provides user profile and access privilege controls and keeps track of database modifications.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Access controls and audit
- openBIS provides user profile and access privilege controls and tracks modifications entered in the database.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Analysis integrations
- The site describes using Jupyter notebooks with openBIS and its APIs to connect workflow managers for cluster analysis.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Audience
- The openRDM.swiss service is aimed at experimental research groups in Swiss universities or research institutes.checked 9 Oct 2026
- BigDataLink
- BigDataLink is described as a git-like tool for linking large datasets across different locations while using openBIS as a metadata repository.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Data management
- It can store data of any size and format connected to experiments through the web interface or API.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The documentation lists standalone and Docker system documentation, and the site says binary releases are available for download.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Users can write plugins to extend existing functionality or add new functionality.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Hosting
- The openRDM.swiss service offers cloud hosting with data stored in Switzerland, and self-hosting on an institution’s local IT infrastructure can be agreed.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Import and export
- The site lists Excel import and export, plus export of full lab notebooks and inventory folders to Excel and PDF.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The openRDM.swiss service based on openBIS is aimed at experimental research groups in Swiss universities or research institutes.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Inventory
- It tracks lab materials and samples and lets users create experimental procedures to share with lab members.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Lab notebook
- The lab notebook links experiments to materials, samples, and protocols stored in the inventory.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Large datasets
- BigDataLink lets users use openBIS as a metadata repository and link large datasets across different locations with a git-like tool.checked 9 Oct 2026
- License
- The software is open source and distributed under the Apache Licence 2.0.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Provider
- The openBIS team says it is part of ETH Zurich Scientific IT Services.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- openBIS is presented as a complete solution for managing research data.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Research data
- It stores data of any size and format connected to experiments through its web interface or API.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- SIS describes its email support for openBIS as “best effort.”checked 9 Oct 2026
Money
- Trial
- A 2021 openRDM.swiss service agreement offered a three-month test period without service charges, while infrastructure costs still had to be covered.checked 9 Oct 2026
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