Blockchain for Audit Trails in Research Information Management Systems

Abstract

Meeting today's society's expectations, there is an increasing complexity associated with data and the need to be transparent in research processes. Information integrity and traceability have become ever so critical for academic and research institutions. These days, research information management systems (RIM) are commonly relied upon to control data regarding research projects, publications, funding, and collaborations. However, traditional RIMS have been and continue to be lacking in properly providing immutable, verifiable audit trails critical for accountability, compliance, scholarly communication sufficiency, and trust. This study focuses on improving RIMS audit trails by incorporating blockchain technology. There are many gaps in the current systems that require immediate attention, and these gaps provide us with significant opportunities, such as using blockchain ledgers to record and verify research data transactions beyond central authoritative dependency. We focus on these gaps by explaining the scalability and privacy obstacles and system interoperability, suggesting solutions that best address these gaps. The study outlines concepts pertaining to blockchain-enabled RIMS and how smart contracts bypass compliance and data provenance to ascertain transparency.
Furthermore, a cross-sectional evaluation with existing audit approaches is provided alongside innovative methods of capturing trustworthy research activity records using blockchain technology. The study indicates that blockchain technology can improve the effectiveness and trustworthiness of RIMS through safe, transparent, and auditable processes in data handling. This paper adds to the existing discourse around digital trust in research environments and guides future application.