Navigated to

Sharing data in ethically approved research

For example, to be able to share research data with your collaborator, you need to describe the collaboration in the ethical review application even if the collaborator is not the entity responsible for research.


Use the brochure for research collaborations

Share the brochure Research collaboration with Umeå University with your collaboration partner so they understand the legal requirements for collaborations.

Sensitive personal data and violations of the law

Research on sensitive personal data and personal data on violations of the law requires ethical review approval.

Read more about processing personal data in research

Secrecy examinations

Before sharing research data with your collaborator, you must conduct a secrecy examination of the data in question. This is true even if the ethical approval states that the parties will collaborate and that you will share research data with the collaborator. You must also ensure that the sharing meets GDPR requirements.

GDPR secrecy

Chapter 21, section 7, item three of the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act states that confidentiality applies to personal data if, after disclosure, the data will be processed in violation of the Ethical Review Act. This means that you may not share the data with the recipient if the recipient lacks ethical approval.

Read more about secrecy examinations and GDPR secrecy

Read more about what you need to consider when collaborating with different partners

Illustration, five persons in a circle holding hands

Sharing data with Swedish authorities

What to know before collaborating with other Swedish authorities.

Illustration flow chart

Sharing data with companies and organisations in Sweden

What to know before collaborating with companies and organisations in Sweden.

Illustration, a person thinking about places abroad

Sharing data with collaborators in other countries

What to consider when collaborating with a partner abroad.

A person's hand writing on a paper.

Research collaboration agreements

When to have an agreement, rights to research results and certificate templates.

Do you have questions about research data?

The University has a cross-functional team that supports you with research data issues in areas such as archiving, legal affairs, IT support, open data, and information security. You can contact the research data support team using the following form:

Contact the research data support team if you have questions

Latest update: 2025-06-03

You may also be interested in

Illustration, two hands.

Sharing research data in collaborations

Your collaborators and the data you process impact how you may share data.

Illustration: paragraph-

Ethical review

The Ethical Review Act states that some types of research must undergo ethical review.

Four bits of a circle illustrating the process of managing research data: planning, organising, making accessible and preserving.

Manage research data

Planning, organising, making accessible and preserving research data.