title: Identifying ELIXIR Core Data Resources.
abstract: The core mission of ELIXIR is to build a stable and sustainable infrastructure for biological information across Europe. At the heart of this are the data resources, tools and services that ELIXIR offers to the life-sciences community, providing stable and sustainable access to biological data. ELIXIR aims to ensure that these resources are available long-term and that the life-cycles of these resources are managed such that they support the scientific needs of the life-sciences, including biological research. ELIXIR Core Data Resources are defined as a set of European data resources that are of fundamental importance to the wider life-science community and the long-term preservation of biological data. They are complete collections of generic value to life-science, are considered an authority in their field with respect to one or more characteristics, and show high levels of scientific quality and service. Thus, ELIXIR Core Data Resources are of wide applicability and usage. This paper describes the structures, governance and processes that support the identification and evaluation of ELIXIR Core Data Resources. It identifies key indicators which reflect the essence of the definition of an ELIXIR Core Data Resource and support the promotion of excellence in resource development and operation. It describes the specific indicators in more detail and explains their application within ELIXIR's sustainability strategy and science policy actions, and in capacity building, life-cycle management and technical actions. The identification process is currently being implemented and tested for the first time. The findings and outcome will be evaluated by the ELIXIR Scientific Advisory Board in March 2017. Establishing the portfolio of ELIXIR Core Data Resources and ELIXIR Services is a key priority for ELIXIR and publicly marks the transition towards a cohesive infrastructure.
authors.affiliation: SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Durinx
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McEntyre
authors.affiliation: SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Appel
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Apweiler
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barlow
authors.affiliation: ELIXIR, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Blomberg
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Chuck
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gasteiger
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Jee-Hyub
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.affiliation: SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Redaschi
authors.affiliation: SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stockinger
authors.affiliation: SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valencia
keywords: Bioinformatics; Capacity building; Data resources; ELIXIR; Indicators; Infrastructure; Life sciences; Sustainability