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.
Action items
2017 Work Plan
ELIXIR HoNs are asked to provide any feedback on the first draft of the ELIXIR 2017 Work Plan by next Thursday 29 September at noon UK time, prior to its submission to the ELIXIR Board on 1 October.
The annual Work Plan sets out the priorities and indicative funding against these priorities. As previously advised, we are aware that there is not enough time to ensure a comprehensive consultation for the 2017 Work Plan. Therefore, we include indicative spending for each Platform, with priorities derived from gap analysis performed by the Platforms and discussed at the HoN retreat in June. We also know that there has been further discussion and prioritisation in the Platforms. There may be adjustments to indicative person months before submission to the Board, because the budget for 2017 is not finalised yet. The current PM allocation is over budget so there's likely to be a pro rata adjustment.
There are areas where the priorities are not fully worked out, and while some studies will start 1 January, many other will only start later in the year and therefore, there is time to reconsider and reallocate funding once the plans are better refined. The priorities and eventual reallocations of funds will be discussed at the HoN meetings for transparence across all ELIXIR Nodes.
We will communicate to the ELIXIR Board that the more detailed Implementation Study proposals will be solicited from the platforms after the submission of the Work Plan and these will be reviewed by HoNs according to the process presented at the HoN meeting at the ECCB. No Commissioned Service will proceed before Heads of Nodes peer-review of the project plans to ensure transparency and scientific quality.
As discussed at the HoN meeting, there will be a surplus in the 2016 budget because of Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Luxembourg joining in 2016. We will use part of the surplus for a proposal to allow these countries that currently don't have a clear role in EXCELERATE WPs to participate in ELIXIR ongoing activities. This ambition will be indicated in the work plan; again specific project plans will be peer-reviewed by HoN.
ELIXIR response to NIH consultation on database metrics
ELIXIR has drafted a response to the NIH consultation on metrics for databases. The draft submission presents the indicators developed by EXCELERATE WP3 for the review of Core Data Resources. Please send any comments to andrew.smith@elixir-europe.org by 27 September. From last week's update:
Provide your feedback on the draft document: Implementing a process for the selection of Core Data Resources to susanna.repo@elixir-europe.org by Thursday 29 September.
Send any comments on the minutes from the HoNs meeting at the ECCB to nicola.kay@elixir-europe.org by Friday 30 September.
Complete the doodle poll to indicate availability for an additional HoNs TC in October to cover in more detail the topic of Implementation Studies and 2017 planning by Monday 26 September.
EXCELERATE partners:
By end of September:
Send any requests for items for inclusion in the Second EXCELERATE Grant Agreement amendment to grants@elixir-europe.org
Ensure that the beneficiaries affiliated with your Node and which you represent in the EXCELERATE Heads of Nodes committee complete the resource review survey as soon as possible.
Key dates and meetings
Heads of Node teleconference
- October 2016, date and time TBC
Heads of Node teleconference
- 8 December 2016, 9-12.00 UK time
ELIXIR All Hands meeting
- 21-23 March 2017, Rome, Italy (preceded by ELIXIR SAB meeting, 20 March 2017)
ELIXIR-EXCELERATE midterm review
- 10 May 2017, Brussels, Belgium. Time and agenda TBC.
ELIXIR Policy event:
- 11 May 2017, Brussels, Belgium, Time and agenda TBC