FAIR data without borders: A new era of interoperable research data

Have you ever struggled to combine datasets or collaborate across disciplines due to varying vocabularies and ontologies? Or wondered how software tools and infrastructure can communicate smoothly across teams, labs, or platforms? As research datasets become more complex and diverse, interoperability is essential for communication across disciplines, enabling integration and discoveries.

On October 20, 2026, researchers across disciplines, data professionals, and support staff are invited to the first event at the University of Groningen (UG) to explore how interoperability can transform research by breaking down barriers between disciplines and systems, creating new opportunities for research collaboration and discovery.

This initiative aligns with the Dutch Interoperability Network, a nationwide effort to advance interoperability in research. The UG DCC, UMCG DCC, and OSCG bring you this event in collaboration, with additions from the Thematic Digital Centres (TDCCs), to connect with national efforts, build local momentum, and support UG and UMCG researchers in making their data findable, understandable, and reusable. 

Whether you are a researcher, data professional, support staff, or IT professional, we invite you to join us, share your perspective and discover how interoperability can help connect people, data, tools, and disciplines to enable more impactful and interesting research!

Final programme

_{This event seeks to bring together researchers, data professionals, and support staff to explore common challenges related to data integration, standards, vocabularies, and ontologies across disciplines. By connecting local expertise with national interoperability efforts, the initiative aims to foster collaboration, identify community needs, and build momentum toward more findable, understandable, and reusable research data. Ultimately, the event serves as a starting point for developing a shared vision and practical pathways toward greater interoperability within the University of Groningen and UMCG research communities.}