Empowering FAIR Life Science Data

Life science research generates large amounts of data to address complex biological questions. To help researchers navigate these challenges, the German Network for Bioinformatics Infrastructure (de.NBI) and its corresponding ELIXIR Node (ELIXIR Germany) provide free-of-charge bioinformatics tools, services, training, and compute resources. These efforts facilitate data-driven research through user-friendly tools, specialised training activities, and high-performance computing capacities via the de.NBI Cloud. Exchange with industrial stakeholders and views is facilitated via the de.NBI Industrial Forum exhibiting over 45 member companies.  European connectivity is secured via the ELIXIR Germany Node. ELIXIR is an intergovernmental organisation with over 20 national Nodes offering bioinformatic research to the Life Science community. The network forms communities and platforms for its stakeholders to discuss Life Science related topics and matters and publish key findings, best practices, and guidelines.

A crucial aspect of large-scale data analysis is Research Data Management (RDM), which ensures that research data is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reproducible (FAIR). With the establishment of artificial intelligence in research, RDM practices and topics gained more and more momentum. This holds true for academic and industrial use cases.

de.NBI/ELIXIR Germany network resources are used in the RDM activities of the network. The de.NBI Cloud plays a key role in supporting RDM by providing scalable computing resources for data storage, analysis, and sharing. Training courses and offered services as well as participation in ELIXIR project, like the RDMkit, support the Life Science community with RDM expertise. While the network’s focus has been on academic research, the increasing importance of RDM in industry is recognised. de.NBI/ELXIR Germany is actively exploring opportunities to collaborate with industry partners to exchange expertise and develop tailored solutions for data management challenges in commercial settings.

To further strengthen RDM practices, de.NBI/ELIXIR Germany is expanding collaborations with national initiatives such as the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI). Members of de.NBI/ELIXIR Germany are also part of NFDI consortia as is the de.NBI Cloud part in NFDI projects. Joint training courses executed with different NFDI consortia like FAIRagro, NFDI4microbiota or GHGA secure a comprehensive training offer to the community. Further ties are strengthening by reaching out to Base4NFDI as well as the NFDI industry section. By fostering these connections, de.NBI/ELIXIR Germany is aiming to enhance data management practices across disciplines and establish sustainable RDM frameworks, best practices, and RDM support for the research community.

Looking ahead, the de.NBI/ELIXIR Germany network is aiming on fostering cross-disciplinary collaborations, develop targeted training opportunities, and provide practical solutions that improve data quality, data interoperability and thus, data usability. By working closely with national and international partners, the de.NBI/ELXIR Germany network contributes to an ecosystem that enables researchers to manage and analyse life science data efficiently and reproducibly.