When Cloud Meets Bioinformatics: A Week of Data, Tools, and Collaboration at IPK Gatersleben
From 8 to 12 September 2025, IPK Gatersleben hosted an exciting week dedicated to research data management and integrative bioinformatics. Bioinformaticians, computer scientists, data managers, and researchers from across Germany and beyond came together to learn, exchange ideas, and explore how new technologies are shaping the way we handle data in the life sciences.
Workshop: Cloud meets RDM – Unlocking Research Data Management in the Cloud (8–9 September 2025)
Kicking off the week, the workshop—organized by de.KCD and de.NBI—focused on how the cloud can transform research data management.
Participants had the chance to:
- Get hands-on experience with the de.NBI Cloud and virtual machines for cloud computing
- Explore tools such as FAIRDOM SEEK and PLANTdataHUB for managing and sharing research data
- Learn about best practices, tools, and techniques that make research more transparent and reproducible
The lively mix of theory and practice gave attendees new skills and confidence to make better use of cloud infrastructures in their daily work.
19th International Symposium on Integrative Bioinformatics (10–12 September 2025)
The momentum continued with the 19th International Symposium on Integrative Bioinformatics, which brought together around 70 participants. The symposium attracted bioinformaticians, computer scientists, and data managers who were eager to discuss the latest developments in the field.
Key themes included:
- Building and using data repositories, electronic lab notebooks, and virtual research environments
- Putting FAIR data principles into practice—ensuring data is findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable
- Sharing experiences in data stewardship, from training to community building
- Exploring cutting-edge approaches in AI, large language models, knowledge graphs, and automated high-throughput workflows
Talks and discussions highlighted just how fast the field is evolving and how essential collaboration across disciplines has become.
Looking Ahead
Both events highlighted a key challenge in modern research: as datasets grow larger and more complex, it becomes crucial to keep them well-structured and easily accessible to collaborators. By connecting communities and encouraging the exchange of knowledge, the workshop and symposium at IPK Gatersleben took important steps toward fostering more open, transparent, and collaborative science.