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A scientific data management system (SDMS) is a piece or package of software that acts as a document management system (DMS), capturing, cataloging, and archiving data generated by laboratory instruments (HPLC, mass spectrometry) and applications (LIMS, analytical applications, electronic laboratory notebooks) in a compliant manner. The SDMS also acts as a gatekeeper, serving platform-independent data to informatics applications and/or other consumers.

As with many other laboratory informatics tools, the lines between a LIMS, ELN, and an SDMS are at times blurred. However, there are some essential qualities that an SDMS owns that distinguishes it from other informatics systems. It's built to handle unstructured, mostly heterogeneous data; it typically acts as a seamless "wrapper" for other data systems like LIMS and ELN in the laboratory; and it is designed primarily for data consolidation, knowledge management, and knowledge asset realization. An SDMS also must be focused on increasing research productivity without sacrificing data sharing and collaboration efforts. (Full article...)

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