Scientific research purposes

Personal data may be processed if the processing takes place exclusively for scientific or statistical purposes, and if the processing is necessary for the research.    

Please note that scientific research purposes cannot be used as a legal basis for the processing of personal data in an educational context.

The processing has to: 

1. take place within a recognised scientific field or for statistical purposes, and
2. be necessary for the research

You may be required to meet and document the information duty. 

A template is available to help you meet your information duty in research projects that use 'scientific research purpose' as the legal basis for processing personal data. 

Remember to save a copy of the document. 

If your legal basis for processing personal data is 'scientific research purposes', many of your data subjects' rights can be derogated from. They can be derogated from because there are special exemptions for research and because there are special rules that protect the data subjects.

Special rules apply when a disclosure is based on the legal basis for scientific research purposes.

As a rule, you must collect a declaration of disclosure from the recipient.

However, in three different cases you must obtain a permission from the Danish data protection agency, Datatilsynet, instead:

1. If you disclose personal data (sensitive or Information on criminal convictions and offences) to a recipient outside the EU/EEA or an international organisation.

2. If you disclose biological material.

3. If you disclose personal data (sensitive or Information on criminal convictions and offences) with a view to publishing. Please remember that the personal data must be pseudonymised.

• Processing of general personal data: Article 6(1)(e) of the General Data Protection Regulation.
• Processing of sensitive personal data: Section 10 of the Danish Data Protection Act and article 6(1)(e) of the General Data Protection Regulation.