Research infrastructure gets $5m boost

The Australian National Data Service (ANDS), National eResearch Collaboration Tools and Resources (Nectar) and Research Data Services (RDS) have jointly committed over $5 million towards developing services for 10 national research communities.

The bulk of the investments — over $4.3 million — will be spread across nine research community projects aimed at enhancing the user experience for Australian researchers by improving their abilities to use and manage the data.

In addition, researchers will be provided with the ability to run simulations in a digital environment over virtual laboratories.

The remaining $700,000 will be allocated towards establishing a data lifecycle framework designed to connect individual research infrastructure components.

“We’re trying to make it easier for researchers to engage with the services we provide and are therefore harmonising our processes,” RDS Director Ian Duncan said.

Assembling data from across multiple sources is essential for research in emerging fields such as personalised medicine. ANDS, Nectar and RDS work to facilitate borderless research both nationally and internationally.

“This is new investment into Australia’s research future, and a new way of doing things for us. Researchers want a more joined-up, cohesive experience, and that is exactly what this joint funding will provide,” ANDS Executive Director Ross Wilkinson said.

“RDS, ANDS and Nectar are working together at every level of our organisations to support Australian research.”

All three organisations are federally funded as part of the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).

Image courtesy of National Eye Institute under CC