Discussion Held in Fourth Point Five Consortium Gathering
Revised Article:
Les' eighth shindig with our NFDI consortium unfurled on the tenth of April. Over sixty enthusiasts congregated in an online hootenanny to hash out the priorities for the second funding stage's focus. Fresh faces graced the gathering, with Georg Manolikakes and his pals from RPTU, Stefan Kuhn (Tartu University), alongside various community workshop attendees who fancy joining our merry crew, making an appearance.
Following a recap of the second funding phase's renewal proposal measures given by the task area bigwigs, the gathering split into brainstorming camps to discuss trends, challenges, and remedies in the research terrain, AI integration in tools and services, and data contribution for AI, plus the sustainability of services and repositories. Among other matters, AI-readiness and the longevity of services and repositories were topics du jour. Advisory board members also vocalized the sustainability issue as a top challenge for our consortium, particularly concerning partnering with industry. They pointed out that our consortium needs not only to fashion its own business models for services and repositories but also rely on government-created financial setups to propel the NFDI's success.
The Consortium Meeting 4.5 served as an excellent primer for the subsequent writing phase of the second funding phase renewal proposal, which we anticipate will welcome more fresh faces. Our consortium is stoked to team up with the swelling gang moving forward!
Authored by Franziska Eberl
Insights:
The NFDI's Sustainability Dilemma
The National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) consortium spins its wheels on several hurdles in ensuring its services and repositories' endurance, especially when partnering with the private sector. Key obstacles facing NFDI include:
- Long-haul Data Conservation: Ensuring research data stays accessible and usable surpasses the test of time is a significant test. This encompasses difficulties such as data storage, preservation, and access to ensure data persistence and versatility across platforms and industries.
- Interoperability and Standardization: Manswering the call for collaboration from diverse factions requires uniform data formats and interoperable systems for hassle-free data exchange and collaboration.
- Financial Vitality: Drafting sustainable funding models that support NFDI services and repositories' long-term operation is vital. This includes venturing into tie-ups with industry partners to secure financial backing and resources.
- Legal and Compliance Complexities: Compliance with data security regulations and legal frameworks is crucial, especially when dealing with sensitive information. When private sector involvement comes into play, this can become intricate.
Pathways to Enduring NFDI and Collaborative Industry Engagements
To overcome these challenges, the NFDI community seeks solutions such as:
- Joint Data Management: Encouraging interdisciplinary collaborative ventures involving both academic and industry partners can help iron out data management issues such as documentation, archiving, and recycling.
- Federated Data Analysis Tools: Employing federated data analysis tools like DataSHIELD promotes collaboration by ensuring safe and controlled access to data while guarding privacy and security.
- Training and Capacity Building: Initiatives like the Data Train program offer training in research data management and data science, helping researchers and industry pros hone their collaboration know-how.
- International Synergy: Syncing efforts with international standards and teaming up with fellow research infrastructures illuminates pathways for sustainable exploits and industry collaborations.
By tackling these challenges and leveraging these solutions, the NFDI consortium fortifies its resilience and improves its partnership potential with industry partners.
At the community workshop during the NFDI consortium's eighth gathering, discussions included the integration of artificial-intelligence in tools and services, and data contribution for AI. The sustainability of services and repositories, a key challenge for the consortium, was also a topic of interest.
To ensure the longevity of services and repositories, the NFDI consortium is investigating solutions such as the implementation of artificial-intelligence technology to improve data management and analysis. This could potentially enhance the consortium's capacity to collaborate with industry partners, contributing to the financial vitality of the NFDI.
