Key Contributors Update 1 July 2016

The update to ELIXIR Heads of Nodes is sent weekly on Friday afternoon. Training and Technical Coordinators are also copied in. Contact nicola.kay@elixir-europe.org for any questions.

Important updates

ELIXIR Services

The word 'Service' is used with reference to many different things within ELIXIR. To clarify the situation, the Hub has prepared a document to provide a definition of terms and scope of ELIXIR Services. It is a reference for the development of Node Service Delivery Plans (SDPs) and ELIXIR Commissioned Services and will be updated when necessary. This document will also be included in the ELIXIR Handbook of Operations.

Update on Implementation Studies funded by the ELIXIR Hub

To connect the Implementation Studies more deeply with the ELIXIR Platforms, the Hub will no longer accept unsolicited Implementation Study proposals from Nodes. From July 2016 onwards, new Hub-funded technical activities will be proposed in two ways:Specific technical projects put forward by the Platforms in agreement with the HubSubmitted in response to a defined Service Request prepared by the Hub together with the Heads of Nodes.In spring 2016, the Hub received a number of Implementation Study proposals, which will now be taken to the ELIXIR Platforms for prioritisation and review. We will notify the submitters of these proposals of the next steps and provide the Platforms with guidelines for review.

In preparation for the 2017 Work Plan, the Hub will now work with the Platforms to decide which projects to take forward in 2017. In addition, we are considering developing a Service Request (option 2) on the subject of integrating Node resources. If agreed with the Heads of Nodes, such request would at the earliest be made public from January 2017.

For further information, contact susanna.repo@elixir-europe.org.

Action items

From previous weeks:

Actions for HoNs from ELIXIR HoNs retreat:

For your information

Luxembourg today became the latest country to join ELIXIR, following the ratification of the ELIXIR Consortium Agreement by its Ministry of Higher Education and Research. ELIXIR's membership now stands at 18, with a further two countries - Ireland and Greece - as Observers.

European Open Science Cloud (EOSC)

A proposal involving ELIXIR was recently submitted to the Horizon 2020 topic on the European Open Science Cloud (INFRADEV-3). The proposal was coordinated by STFC, with CSC as co-coordinators. ELIXIR was engaged in the following Work Packages: governance; science demonstrators; services; and interoperability. If funded, the two-year project will ensure that ELIXIR is engaged in many of the key discussions that will be taking place during the EOSC pilot phase.

Key dates and meetings

Heads of Node meeting

  • 4 September, 16-19:00, The Hague, Netherlands (during the ECCB 2016)

Heads of Node Teleconference

  • 8 December 2016, 9-12.00 UK time

ELIXIR-EXCELERATE midterm review

  • 10 May 2017, Brussels, Belgium. Time and agenda TBC.

ELIXIR Policy meeting:

  • 11 May 2017, Brussels, Belgium, Time and agenda TBC