The project ELIXIR-EXCELERATE has been awarded €19 million from the EU to accelerate the implementation of Europe’s life-science data infrastructure over the next four years.
From September 2015, ELIXIR-EXCELERATE will work to facilitate the integration of Europe’s bioinformatics resources, supporting all sectors of life-science R&D. It will strive to fast-track the development and deployment of essential data services.
ELIXIR Director Niklas Blomberg says, “I am delighted that the EU is supporting this high-impact project. In the age of big data, it is critical that we can all make the most of the bioinformatics capacity that has been developed in each of our member states. This will make a difference to Europe’s 500,000 life-science researchers, who need public research data to be managed well over the long term so it can be reused to maximum effect.”
Dedicated user cases, defined in close partnership with diverse research communities, will help ELIXIR grow in keeping with the needs of scientists.
EXCLERATE’s funding will help ELIXIR coordinate and extend national and international data resources to ensure the delivery of world-leading life-science data services. It will support a pan-European training programme, anchored in national infrastructures, to increase bioinformatics capacity and competency. It will also provide efficiencies in management and operation throughout the infrastructure, which is distributed amongst 17 countries.
