ELIXIR uses several terms for its groups – clubs, Platforms, Communities and Focus Groups – but we see them all as communities of practice: people who share an interest and goal and work towards it by learning from each other and collaborating together.
ELIXIR-UK members can join our UK clubs or ELIXIR’s Europe-wide groups. Here’s how they differ and how to get started.
Anyone can join, even if you don’t work at a member organisation. Funding, however, is limited to those who do – from travel bursaries to attend meetings to participation in funded projects.
Find the right group
- UK clubs – our UK-based groups, open to anyone. Everything else below is Europe-wide.
- Platforms – overarching areas, such as data, tools or training, that span the work of many Communities.
- Communities – established groups focused on a specific life science domain.
- Focus Groups – newer groups working on a specific topic for a set period, after which they either become a Community or close.
How they differ
| UK Clubs | Platforms | Communities | Focus Groups | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reach | UK | Europe | Europe | Europe |
| Duration | Ongoing | Ongoing | Ongoing | Set period |
| Funding route | Self-organised joint proposals for national funding | Commissioned Services (internal ELIXIR Europe projects) | Commissioned Services (internal ELIXIR Europe projects) | Not eligible for Commissioned Services (internal ELIXIR Europe projects) |
| Leadership | Agreed by each Club, with one representative on our Management Committee | Executive Committee nominated across all Nodes | Leads voted by members | Leads are those who applied to form the group |
Before you join
The more you contribute, the more you get out of any group – but most contribution is in-kind, so expect to give a significant amount of your own time before you see the benefits.
Active club members are well placed for our internal funding opportunities, which offer flexible funds to attend conferences, run workshops or support your services. To apply, you need to work at one of our member organisations.
New to ELIXIR communities?
Anyone can join any of the communities of practice at all levels, but understanding how ELIXIR’s Europe-wide ones work can be difficult at first. Contact us and we’ll pair you with a UK member already involved in the group you’re interested in.
