Improving Node operations, policy alignment and impact
ELIXIR is a distributed research infrastructure made up of national Nodes, each connecting leading institutes and universities that provide bioinformatics services to researchers. Nodes vary in size, maturity, focus and national funding context, but all play a crucial role in delivering excellent data services and supporting national and European research priorities.
The Node Support project was established to strengthen the organisational capabilities of ELIXIR Nodes so they can operate effectively as national research data infrastructures, align with emerging European developments such as common data spaces and demonstrate long-term value to funders and policymakers. It builds on many years of work supporting Node development through coordination groups, knowledge exchange and capacity-building activities.
Project objectives
Strengthening Node operations and governance
Nodes need to function as professionally coordinated national infrastructures, with effective governance, clear processes and strong communication. This work supports Nodes in developing and refining their operational structures, improving coordination across partners and adopting good practice across ELIXIR. A focus on strengthening communication, both within Nodes and with national stakeholders, will help teams respond to increasing service usage and participate confidently in European and international collaborations. Practical guidance and shared resources will enable Nodes to operate with greater consistency and resilience.
Aligning Nodes with national research and open science policies
Nodes work within diverse and rapidly evolving national policy environments, where there are growing expectations around open science, research data management and digital asset stewardship. This ambition supports Nodes to position ELIXIR resources within national research priorities and engage effectively with funders and ministries. Another goal is to help Nodes develop strategies that align with national and EU open science requirements, and strengthen their ability to understand and respond to references to ELIXIR resources in national guidance and policies.
Improving Node-level industry engagement and innovation
Industry partners across life sciences, biotechnology and digital health increasingly rely on high-quality data, tools and standards. This work aims to improve Node-level industry engagement by supporting the development or improvement of national industry strategies, fostering shared learning through existing Focus Groups and encouraging collaboration across Nodes. This involves helping Nodes organise industry engagement days, contributing to targeted technical discussions and connecting with relevant EU-level industry initiatives. Capturing and sharing examples of how industry benefits from ELIXIR services will help demonstrate the value of Nodes within national innovation ecosystems.
Demonstrating impact and supporting sustainability
Long-term sustainability depends on the ability of Nodes to demonstrate their scientific, socio-economic and societal impact. This work builds capacity across Nodes through training, knowledge exchange and the provision of practical tools that support impact evaluation and communication. This contributes to ELIXIR-wide systems and indicators that help illustrate the public value of ELIXIR’s services, and supports Nodes in developing approaches for securing national or alternative funding. Through these activities, Nodes will be better equipped to communicate their contributions and strengthen their long-term sustainability.
Project outcomes
This project brings together shared expertise to produce an operational toolkit for Nodes, improved resources for national policy alignment, stronger and more coordinated approaches to industry engagement and enhanced capacity across Nodes for evaluating and communicating impact. It contributes to ELIXIR-wide systems that track usage, performance and the value of ELIXIR services, and supports sustainable operations by improving access to funding information and strengthening Node-level planning. Collectively, these outcomes help prepare Nodes for their growing role within national and European data ecosystems.
Co-leads
- Lucy Poveda
- Sushma Grellscheid
- Ana Teresa Freitas
- Jiri Vondrasek
- Francesca De Leo
- Janet Vos
- Nils-Christian Lübke
- Xenia Perez Sitja
