Access to Idescat's confidential data for scientific purposes
Idescat has a Microdata section, where you can download microdata and metadata from different surveys. You should consult this section before requesting access to confidential data for scientific purposes.
Accredited researchers and research centres may access Idescat's confidential data for their research, provided that the data do not allow direct identification of the natural or legal persons involved (in accordance with current legislation on data protection and statistical confidentiality).
This section explains the procedure to follow and the documentation required to access confidential Idescat data for scientific purposes.
1. Request for confidential data
The researcher or research centre previously recognised by Eurostat that wishes to access confidential Idescat data must send a letter to Idescat, in accordance with the guide for requesting access to confidential data for scientific purposes (PDF), and fill in the appropriate form.
According to this guide, the form should contain detailed information on the following:
- Description of the research project
- Support from the research institution/centre for the project submitted by the principal investigator
- Researchers' CV
- Physical and procedural safeguards for the secure processing of confidential data
Therefore, the form for access to confidential data for scientific purposes (ODT) should be filled out based on the explanations in the guide and sent to the Idescat researcher help unit (SAI), sai at idescat dot cat.
If the researcher or research centre does not have Eurostat or Idescat research centre recognition, they must also fill in the research centre recognition form (ODT) and send it to the Idescat researcher help unit (sai at idescat dot cat) for official recognition.
2. Assessment of the application
Once the application has been accepted, the researcher or research centre must sign a declaration of commitment for access to confidential data for scientific purposes (PDF). In addition, all researchers must sign an individual declaration of commitment concerning confidentiality (PDF). Finally, the principal investigator must agree in advance to the costs associated with the processing of the confidential data that will be provided to him/her.
3. Handing over of confidential data
To access the data, the Idescat researcher help unit will provide the researcher with the keys and passwords to download the information through a secure channel with a VSFTP (very secure file transfer protocol) server.
For any other research to be carried out with the same total or partial set of confidential data provided by Idescat, a new application must be made and the same procedures must be followed.
4. Destruction of confidential data
The researcher or research centre must destroy the data provided by Idescat when the deadline for using them expires. To this end, it must complete a declaration on destruction of confidential data for scientific purposes (PDF) and forward it to the researcher help unit (SAI).
5. Documentation and forms to download
- Research centre recognition form* (ODT)
- Guide for requesting access to confidential data for scientific purposes (PDF)
- Form for access to confidential data for scientific purposes* (ODT)
- Declaration of commitment for access to confidential data for scientific purposes (to be signed by the principal investigator) (PDF)
- Individual declaration of commitment concerning confidentiality (to be signed by the rest of the research team) (PDF)
- Declaration on destruction of confidential data for scientific purposes (PDF)
* You can adapt this form to suit your needs (as long as the requested information is included) and you can use any text editing software you wish. Once completed, you must convert it into PDF format, sign it digitally and send it to the Idescat researcher help unit (SAI) at the following address: sai at idescat dot cat.
6. Regulations
The access, use and processing of confidential data for scientific purposes is regulated by Catalan and European legislation, the main provisions of which are set out below.
Any breach of the established regulations by research staff or the research centre is subject to administrative liabilities, without prejudice to the civil and criminal liabilities that may be enforceable before ordinary jurisdiction.
Regulations
- Law 23/1998, of 30 December 1998, on statistics in Catalonia
- Law 5/2016, of 23 December, on the Statistical Plan for Catalonia 2017–2020 and amending Law 23/1998, on statistics in Catalonia
- Decree 143/2010, of 19 October 2010, on the Register of Statistical Files and the transmission of data subject to statistical confidentiality
- ORDER ECO/99/2023, of 26 April, announcing the general fees of the ministries of the Government of Catalonia and of the Ministry of Economy and Finance
- Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on European statistics
- Regulation (EU) 2015/759 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 amending Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 557/2013 of 17 June 2013 implementing Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European Statistics as regards access to confidential data for scientific purposes and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 831/2002
- European Statistics Code of Practice (third version adopted by the European Statistical System Committee in November 2017)
For further information, please contact the Idescat researcher help unit at sai at idescat dot cat.