Abstract
This article presents the development of the Congruence Engine (CE) Data Register, a prototype for a minimum, community-driven infrastructure to support a distributed United Kingdom (UK) national collection. Developed as part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s Towards a National Collection programme (2021–2025) and led by the Science Museum Group, the CE project aimed to connect industrial heritage collections across museums, archives, and community groups through open, scalable digital tools. Drawing inspiration from Bradford-based participatory research and the concept of the “social machine”, the CE Data Register leverages Wikibase.Cloud—closely related to and interoperable with Wikidata—to create a transparent, collaborative environment for describing and linking cultural heritage data. Complemented by a custom web application that lowers technical barriers to participation, the register exemplifies how lightweight, open infrastructures such as Wikibase and Wikidata can support sustainable, inclusive cultural heritage research. By emphasizing minimal metadata requirements, interoperability, and strong documentation practices, this prototype demonstrates a practical pathway toward a resilient, community-led digital ecosystem for connecting the UK’s distributed collections.