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SciLifeLab Data Centre launches new Data Platform to accelerate data-driven life science research

The SciLifeLab Data Platform, a new tool in Sweden’s life science landscape, is set to bring change to data handling and analysis. Developed as part of the SciLifeLab and Wallenberg national program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS), this platform aims to provide researchers with resources for the data-rich world of life sciences whilst upholding the principles of open science and FAIR data usage. Join the online launch event on May 26 to learn more about the Data Platform.

The SciLifeLab and Wallenberg national program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS) is a 12-year initiative funded with a total of SEK 3.1 billion from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. The purpose of the program is to train and recruit the next generation of life scientists and to create a strong computational and data science base.

“The DDLS program, with its recruitment, training, data support, data science collaboration, and research programs will prepare Sweden to lead the transition to data-driven research,” says SciLifeLab director Olli Kallioniemi.

Improvements in computing power, artificial intelligence, and other technologies are creating important new capabilities for life science. Life science has recently seen a massive increase in the amount of data produced, and the field has become more data-driven. Data is one of the most valuable products of life science research. However, the large amounts of data produced also pose significant challenges as only a fraction of the data produced today is shared and remains reusable, which means lost opportunities for scientific breakthrough discoveries.
It is widely recognized that adhering to the principles of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and open data sharing is essential to increasing the amount of data that can be reused. In addition, many funding agencies ask for raw data to be deposited in open data repositories to facilitate data reuse and thereby increase the amount of science produced. Openly shared data can also contribute to public policy, and data-dependent decisions in e.g. health care, biodiversity and environment and hence data can be converted into actionable insights for society.

The SciLifeLab Data Platform consists of a website and an underlying technical environment. The technical environment enables hosting for services (including data-centric tools and databases), and all life science researchers are welcome to apply for such services. The website provides a way of accessing those services, as well as providing other material aimed at supporting and accelerating data-driven life science research in Sweden. The platform’s services adhere to the principles of FAIR and open science and best practices for data management throughout the data life cycle.

“We have a very active community of service and software development for the life sciences in Sweden. With the launch of the Data Platform, the SciLifeLab Data Centre can now support this by providing production-level data infrastructure, hosting, and support, and together with the community, build an open and widely accessible menu of data services for life science researchers anywhere in the world,” says Johan Rung, head of SciLifeLab Data Centre.

SciLifeLab Data Platform Launch event

The official launch of the SciLifeLab Data Platform will take place on May 26th, 11-12 CEST over the internet. At this launch event, the SciLifeLab Data Centre team will demonstrate how the Data Platform supports the data-driven life science community, the services offered, and how researchers can get access to hosting resources. In addition, a number of users will present their experiences with the platform, before a short Q&A session

Find more information about the Data Platform on their website


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Last updated: 2023-05-17

Content Responsible: victor kuismin(victor.kuismin@scilifelab.uu.se)