The “Specialised Information Services” programme funds the establishment and expansion of specialised information services (SIS) to enable German-based researchers of all disciplines to access specialised literature and research-specific information quickly and directly, irrespective of work location.

As infrastructures supporting research, the specialised information services provide information aligned to the special need of research subject areas, principally digital information irrespective of location. Specialised information services therefore complement the local infrastructures at universities and research institutions.

The funding of specialised information services is granted with the aim of alignment to a need for the provision of information formulated by research. Specialised information services are to be designed to focus on the interests of the research community in each discipline. These services differ from the basic tasks of research libraries and information services and offer added value compared to existing services.

This funding programme also pursues the strategic objective of turning the individual specialised information services into an overarching and networked overall information structure for specialists. The funding is working towards binding cooperation between the specialised information services to enable knowledge transfer, the reuse of technologies, coordinated task sharing and joint development of services – thus ensuring greater interoperability of services.