ELIXIR-IT shares its experience in industry engagement

ELIXIR has released three new onboarding videos developed through the PeoplePulse Commissioned Service, an ELIXIR initiative designed to support people across the Nodes by strengthening onboarding, professional development and the visibility of the different roles and contributions within the ELIXIR network.
As part of this initiative, the new videos offer an accessible introduction to different areas of ELIXIR through the perspectives of people directly involved in its activities. They explore the role and activities of ELIXIR Nodes, the ELIXIR-GOBLET Train-the-Trainer programme, and ELIXIR’s industry programme, helping newcomers better understand how ELIXIR works and how they can engage with its activities.

The video “ELIXIR faces – How does ELIXIR engage with industry?” explores how ELIXIR engages with industry across its network, presenting different approaches and initiatives developed to connect research infrastructures with companies. It highlights activities aimed at making ELIXIR services and expertise more accessible to industry, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration, and building stronger links between the research and private sectors.
Within this broader perspective, Francesca De Leo, Deputy Head of Node of ELIXIR Italy, shares the Node’s experience and some of its initiatives to strengthen connections with industry.

Among these is “ELIXIR-IT: A Bridge Between Research and the Biotechnological Industry”, a two-day event held in Bari on 18–19 November 2024 in collaboration with Confindustria Bari e BAT and Consorzio Italbiotec. The event brought together more than 100 participants and was designed both to showcase ELIXIR-IT’s technological platforms and services and to better understand the needs of biotech companies. It also created opportunities for researchers and companies to meet, explore potential collaborations and funding opportunities, and discuss how research infrastructures can support innovation in the life sciences.
Francesca also highlights ELIXIR-IT’s activities addressing the ethical and legal aspects of research and industry collaboration. This work includes the ELSI Web Café series, which provides a space to discuss legal, regulatory and practical issues related to the use and sharing of data and research resources. The sessions have addressed secure and controlled access to data and resources, as well as licensing and intellectual property in Open Science, including topics such as copyright, data reuse and access to digital services.
Together, these activities illustrate how ELIXIR-IT is working on different levels to strengthen its relationship with industry: by creating opportunities for direct exchange with companies, promoting access to its services and expertise, and addressing the legal and practical aspects that can support effective collaboration between research and industry.