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‪The opening of research data, a consequence of the Open movement and of prompting by national and international institutional sponsors, raises technical as well as epistemological, ethical and political issues. This article examines the questions raised during successive phases of research: from project development and the initial planning of data opening, to the collection and description of data in view of conservation, to data provision via storage warehouses. We also discuss institutional incentive initiatives and accompanying measures that support the policy of opening up research data, and we review the proactive attitude of decision-makers at the highest level of government.‪