The Brisbane Statement prominently acknowledges the transformative role of Digital Research Infrastructures, a recognition that is particularly significant for e-infrastructures like EGI.
The Brisbane Statement, a landmark declaration from the 2024 International Conference on Research Infrastructures in Brisbane, Australia, underscores the vital role of Research Infrastructures in addressing global challenges and advancing scientific discovery. Among its many important themes, it has rightly placed digital infrastructures at the forefront of global research collaboration. For EGI, a leading provider of advanced digital services for science and research, this recognition is not just welcome – it's a validation of our long-held belief in the transformative power of digital tools.
Acknowledging the Critical Role of Digital Infrastructures
The statement articulates a crucial point: as research becomes increasingly data-driven, digital infrastructure is no longer a supporting element, but a foundational pillar. It highlights the essential role of digital resources in enabling:
- Data-intensive research: Managing and analysing the ever-expanding datasets that span scientific disciplines. Without robust digital infrastructure, researchers would be drowning in data, unable to extract meaningful insights.
- Global collaboration: Fostering seamless access and interoperability for researchers across geographical boundaries. Global challenges demand global solutions, and digital infrastructure is the bridge connecting researchers worldwide.
- Technological innovation: Driving advancements in areas like AI, big data analytics, and high-performance computing. These cutting-edge technologies are crucial for addressing complex scientific questions, and they rely heavily on robust digital foundations.
EGI, as a key provider of advanced digital services for science and research, recognises this affirmation as a milestone in acknowledging the strategic importance of digital infrastructures in the global research ecosystem.
FAIR Principles and Open Science: Cornerstones of Our Approach
The Brisbane Statement's emphasis on FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles strongly resonates with EGI's long-standing commitment to open science. We believe that research data should be readily accessible and reusable, fostering transparency and accelerating discovery. Our initiatives, such as the EGI Federated Cloud and our high-performance computing resources, are designed to empower research infrastructures and research communities in general, to achieve these FAIR data goals. We also recognise the importance of secure, trustworthy, and equitable access, ensuring that all researchers can benefit from these digital resources.
Enabling Multidisciplinary and Global Collaboration
The Brisbane Statement recognises that tackling global challenges—such as climate change, food security, and public health—requires multidisciplinary collaboration supported by robust digital infrastructures. EGI plays a pivotal role in enabling such collaborations through its global platforms that connect research communities, provide federated identity solutions, and offer scalable compute and storage capabilities for diverse types of applications, such as digital twins and digital spaces.
Preparing for the Future
As the statement calls for long-term strategic planning and investment in RIs, it aligns closely with EGI’s vision of developing a resilient, inclusive, and interoperable digital ecosystem.
EGI remains committed to:
- Supporting the skills and training needed to empower future generations of researchers and RI staff.
- Facilitating the integration of emerging technologies to meet evolving research needs.
- Strengthening partnerships in Europe and across continents to build a truly global digital infrastructure framework.
The Brisbane Statement’s recognition of digital infrastructure as a cornerstone of research collaboration inspires EGI to continue innovating and expanding its services for RIs, its main user group. It is a clarion call for policymakers, funders, and RI managers to invest in digital infrastructures, ensuring it is well-resourced and strategically aligned with the broader goals of research and innovation.
By embracing the vision outlined in the Brisbane Statement, EGI and its partners are poised to lead the way in creating a digital infrastructure ecosystem that empowers global research to address today’s challenges and unlock the discoveries of tomorrow.
