OECD workshop advances global dialogue on access to research software, with UK experts shaping infrastructure and standards
On 8 September 2025, the OECD hosted a hybrid workshop, Access to Research Software: Opportunities and Challenges, bringing together policymakers, researchers, and industry representatives to explore options for strengthening software as a pillar of open science.
ELIXIR-UK played a visible role in shaping the agenda. Carole Goble, (University of Manchester, ELIXIR-UK Head of Node) co-moderated the session on infrastructure issues, steering discussions on fragmentation, interoperability and long-term sustainability of research software. The session explored scalable models for repositories, archiving and reuse, with contributions from international experts across Europe, Australia and Japan.
Later in the day, Susanna-Assunta Sansone (University of Oxford, ELIXIR-UK FAIR Lead) joined the standards panel, contributing expertise on frameworks, FAIR4RS principles, and the role of policy in enabling adoption – a session focused on embedding reproducibility and transparency in research software.
These contributions highlight the active engagement from ELIXIR-UK members in international policy development around digital research infrastructures. They reinforce the Node’s mission to ensure UK perspectives are well represented in global conversations that connect open science policy with sustainable research practices.
For more on the event, see the OECD agenda and details.
Notes to editors
About ELIXIR-UK
ELIXIR-UK is part of the European ELIXIR infrastructure, which supports life science research and its translation to medicine, the environment, and society. By integrating national bioinformatics resources, ELIXIR-UK aims to provide a sustainable infrastructure for biological information, ensuring that data is effectively managed, analysed and shared across the scientific community.
For further details, reach out to us at contact@elixiruknode.org
