The Uniquip project was established at the University of Southampton, which partnered institutions across the UK, to define standards for the publication of research facilities and equipment data. The project was informed by the early work of the SES consortium which helped to define the scope of the Uniquip project. This project provided the foundations for the development of the equipment.data project, which aggregates data from published research equipment databases which conform to the Uniquip Data Publishing Specification with the aim to provide a national searchable equipment database. This national database will use the linked open data techniques developed by the University of Southampton and partners and presents opportunities for the exploitation of the infrastructure along with the future potential to align with and enhance data published through the RCUK Gateway to Research initiative offering access to the wider academic and business communities.
