Preliminary Detailed Programme

Impact on science and technology by collaboration for technology onboarding

Geert Van Minnebruggen, Saskia Lippens

VIB Technologies, VIB, Belgium

Core facilities have become an integral part of life science research. Although science relies on well-functioning core facilities, it remains challenging to highlight the strategic importance of these core facilities, even to the research community that heavily relies on it. When demonstrating the impact of facilities, typically facts on output and performance (metrics on equipment, users, samples, …) are used. To ascertain that the activities of core facilities are directly linked to scientific output, several rules and codes are in place for referring to contribution of core facilities (e.g. guidelines on acknowledgements and co-authorships).

In addition, there is also mindset and culture that needs to grow towards a natural appreciation for the impact of core faciltieis by all levels of the research community. A bidirectional interaction between the core and the research labs needs to be fostered. Cores contribute to scientific research, but also scientists are instrumental for the advancement of core facilities in onboarding new technology.

At VIB, we use different models for uptake of new technology. Following a traditional path, new tech platforms are first tested within a research lab and then transitioned to a core for broader implementation and service delivery. We have complemented this with a model and framework which incentivizes early technology adoption through collaboration between principal investigators (PIs) and core facilities, allows for faster validation and dissemination of new methods. This collaboration-based model creates co-involvement of the researchers and cores in each others mission and shared responsibility for driving science and technology forward.

Research Infrastructures and Cores Facilities in the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC)

Ignacio Blanquer^1,2

¹European Open Science Cloud Association (EOSC-A); ²Universtitat Politècnica de València, Spain

Open Science is a major paradigm change in the way science is performed, pursuing that data involved in research is openly accessible and fulfils the FAIR principle. To achieve the goal of being Open Science the new normal, effort is needed at the level of the actors (with new skills and recognition models), the data collection and processing (ensuring the adoption of FAIR-by-design procedures) and the infrastructures (supporting Open Science through services and resources).

The aim of the European Open Science Cloud is to impulse this paradigm change. EOSC is one of the co-programmed European Partnerships for the 2020-2027 period and aims to build an EOSC federation ecosystem of data and service nodes, among other objectives.

The role of Research Infrastructures and Core Facilities in the collection, curation and reuse of scientific data is fundamental. RIs form part of the EOSC ecosystem and are driving the setup of thematic nodes. This presentation will cover the role of the RIs and core facilities in EOSC, considering the EOSC association and the EOSC Federation of nodes.

Implementing Opportunities and a Promotional Pathway for Technical Specialists

Ian Hancox

University of Warwick, UK

In 2023, the University of Warwick launched its Promotional Pathway for Technical Specialists, providing an opportunity for staff in these roles to be promoted based on individual merit, akin to the equivalent academic promotion pathway. This includes transparent criteria and scoring for promotion to levels ranging from equivalency to postdoctoral research associate through to full professor. We will look at the drivers and the case for implementing the pathway, how it functions and the outcomes from the first round. Case studies will provide illustrative examples of those promoted in the 23/24 round.

To support our technical staff in preparation for their promotional cases, it is also important for us to consider both opportunities to develop and to ensure appropriate recognition for input into research and teaching. Since the Technician Commitment was launched in the UK in 2017, there has been a positive change across the sector towards the visibility, recognition, sustainability and career development of technical staff. Here, we look at some of the key initiatives that have been available to technical staff at a national and regional level, plus the approach taken by the University of Warwick, and how this integrates with the promotional pathway.

Core Facilities management: a new paradigm at Universities

Gerardo D'Errico

Research Management Sector, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

There are some important basic aspects of CFs management, starting from the context. We cannot define a management model if we don’t know the real missions and goals of CFs and their characteristics. It is possible to have CFs lacking of one or more common characteristics or mixing aspects with Research Infrastructures but we can say that usually CFs are, technology driven and service oriented, with an open access and pay per use policy, usually not legally independent and with an institutional or regional mission.

Establishing a new CF inside an Institution can be a complex and challenging process. It is certainly an administrative change but above all a cultural one, starting from identifying the needs of the research institution the facility is going to serve, fixing some clear rules of management, promote feasibility studies, carry out an evaluation process and set up of the facility in terms of governing bodies and guidelines.

CFs should have a dedicated accounting system, a Centre of cost inside the Institution hosting the facility. And the question is what type of accounting system we should implement considering the main characteristics of CFs.

Having a network of CFs having or aiming to have the same common characteristics lead to the possibility to establish common KPI indicators, useful to each CF to perform always better.

Knowledge transfer in a multi-hub core facility

Gabriel Krens

Imaging & Optics Facility (IOF ), Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Klosterneuburg, Austria

A main task of Core Facilities (CFs) is to train the next generation of scientists, develop staff and provide information platform, next to provide 'day-to-day' services. Consequently, the sharing of knowledge is a multi-level quest: CF-users need to be trained for instrument usage and infrastructure guidelines; CF-staff require to stay up to date with application development, instrument maintenance and CF policies. In addition, Core Facility are continuously evolving on an organizational and technological level, since institute organization might change as well as new technologies and standards come into being. Hence, training of CF-users, CF-staff and information distribution are key to run a successful technology platform.

The Imaging & Optics Facility (IOF) is a multi-service facility with about 50 charged systems distributed over 5 buildings, that are overseen by a team from 15 facility staff members. Services range from basic to advanced microscopy applications, cell cytometry support and image analysis services – providing training, assistance, project support. An insight is presented how teaching, training and staff knowledge transfer is coordinated using various tools, platforms and checklists, with the aim to work towards systematic procedures, including ‘new user onboarding procedures’, system & technology implementation, information distribution, data handling and system quality control measures. Over the past years, our facility has been confronted with several infrastructure challenges, where the need of training, communication and coordination has been put to the test and helped us in ongoing improvement strategies to refine our installed procedures.