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Opening day
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Submission deadline
Background and Scope
Today, research data is still often distributed across numerous repositories, hard to locate, and available only for a limited time. The NFDI seeks to improve the findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability (FAIRness) of research data.
Within this framework, Base4NFDI integrates and establishes Basic Services – shared, interoperable solutions that address cross-disciplinary needs. Existing services are being adapted and extended to support researchers from other domains, helping to avoid redundant developments and foster sustainable, community-driven infrastructures. The long-term goal is to shape, together, the evolving service portfolio that Base4NFDI contributes both to the NFDI ecosystem and to the broader RDM landscape together.
The Base4NFDI User Conference (UC4B) has become a central forum for presenting, discussing, and operationalizing current developments in Base4NFDI-funded services, fostering exchange on incubator projects, community integration efforts, and strategic service topics across the NFDI. This year marks the third edition of the conference.
The 2026 program welcomes contributions from across the NFDI and beyond. Members of sections, working groups, consortia, Basic Service teams, and related initiatives are invited to participate and share their ideas and experiences as well as best practices.
Call for Contributions
We invite the submission of abstracts showcasing activities and experiences related to Base4NFDI or Basic Services in the context of the NFDI.
Possible types of contributions:
Incubator Presentations: Base4NFDI Service Incubators are an efficient way to test, prepare, and enable the integration of basic services into NFDI consortia. We invite reports from incubators in every state showcasing their added value. We especially encourage presentations that tell the story behind a challenge, the approach taken, and the lessons learned in an easy-to-follow manner. Possible aspects include: what community RDM problem the incubators project aims to solve, the motivation for establishing the incubator, preparatory steps, collaboration between consortia and Basic Services, and the specific benefits emerging from these partnerships.
Accepted contributions are expected to be allocated approximately 15 minutes including time for questions or discussion; the final program may vary depending on the number of submissions.
Talks: A broader slot for short, accessible presentations in the plenary. Possible topics include but are not limited to:
- User stories beyond incubators
- How Basic services solved disciplinary or consortia challenge
- How Basic services encouraged data sharing across communities
- Operational models (complementary to the program slot on service operations)
- Missing Basic Services or identified cross-cutting needs
- Insights and synergies from services outside the NFDI
Posters: The most inclusive category, addressing all topics related to Basic Services. Submissions are encouraged from NFDI consortia, sections, basic services and external initiatives alike. Accepted posters will be presented in a one-minute madness session during the conference.
When submitting, please indicate the category most relevant to your contribution. The program committee reserves the right to reassign accepted abstracts to a different category.
By contributing, participants can increase the visibility of their work, exchange insights with stakeholders from across the NFDI, and help identify opportunities for broader adoption and integration of services.
Submission Details
- Abstract length: maximum 500 words
- Format: please use the official template and attach it to your submission.
- Language: English
- Submission deadline: July 22, 2026
- Submission portal: https://events.gwdg.de/event/1337/abstracts/
- Review process: coordinated with NFDI sections and Base4NFDI staff; final decisions will be made by the program chairs
- Participation: at least one author per accepted contribution must attend the conference in person (no virtual participation)
- Publication: slides and posters will be made available on Zenodo after the event; accepted abstracts may be revised before publication and may be featured on the conference website in advance
Further details about the event can be found here: https://events.gwdg.de/e/uc4b2026
For inquiries, please contact: [base4nfdi-uc4b@lists.nfdi.de]
The Program Chairs
Reinhard Altenhöner, Raphael Ritz, Sonja Schimmler, Lukas Weimer