Pipeline Newsletter - April 2026

Welcome to the DCC Pipeline newsletter!

Our monthly newsletter features news updates from the community, information about DCC work and services as well as important dates for your calendar. We hope you enjoy!

At a glance...

In this edition of Pipeline, we announce registration for our DMPonline Community event in May is open, share details of upcoming training in June and highlight a recently published IJDC article.

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DCC News

DMPonline Community Event
10:00-13:00 UTC+1, 26 June 2026 | Online 
We are delighted to announce our third annual DMPonline Community Event, held on 26 May 2026. It will be an online event consisting of a series of talks from the DMPonline community and DMPonline team.

Join us to learn about proposals for changes to key functionalities of the tool, such as adding global organisation questions to customised templates, proposal for a dynamic, survey-style template and changes to feedback functionality to enable targeted communications with departmental data stewards.

Learn more about the community event on our website.

Save the date!
RISE/ACME-FAIR – half day workshop 
10:30-13:30 UTC+1, 18 June 2026 | Online 
Research performing organisations (RPOs) can play a critical role in enabling the researchers they employ to adhere with good research data management (RDM) practices and to ensure that the outputs they produce are FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable). In June, we are hosting a half day workshop alongside the Research Data Alliance (RDA), that will introduce participants to the concept of self-assessment of their organisations’ capabilities to support Research Data Management (RDM) and the production and reuse of FAIR data.

Participants of the workshop will be provided with practical advice on implementing a self-assessment effectively, interpreting the results, and planning for improvements.

Join our Associates mailing list to be the first to know when registration opens!

International Journal of Data Curation

Parent Projects in RDMO: How Hierarchies in the Research Data Management Organiser Facilitate Data Management in Large-Scale Projects
This article outlines experience at RWTH Aachen University in promoting use of data management plans (DMPs) to support consistent and effective research data management across complex projects. It highlights how the Research Data Management Organiser (RDMO) can help streamline DMP workflows, reduce duplication, and improve collaboration by enabling all project participants to work within a shared system. The article draws on experience from three large-scale initiatives to show how RDMO supports projects involving 50 to 200 members, each with distinct needs around access and information flow. RDMO links related projects allowing teams to connect DMPs, monitor progress, share responsibilities, and apply project-wide guidelines more effectively. Data stewards in particular play a central role in managing this structure and embedding DMPs into researchers' day-to-day workflows.

Download the article on the IJDC website. 

Inform the DCC training offering 
We are conducting a short survey to understand current and anticipated training needs in research data management (RDM) and Generative AI in research. Your responses will help inform the design and prioritisation of our training offering over the next 12 months. 

Complete the short survey by 31 May 2026 online.

Funded projects

FIDELIS mentoring and peer-to-peer support programme open for applications! 
FIDELIS, an EU funded project that DCC is working on as a project partner, launched a peer-to-peer support programme in February 2026. The FIDELIS project aims to establish a European network of FAIR-enabling trustworthy digital repositories. This call selects external mentors to work together with FIDELIS to design a support programme for peer mentees to participate across five different support programmes. 

Successful applicants will receive financial support, training to improve their mentoring skills, support from FIDELIS mentors in developing and delivering the support programme, and peer exchange with the other mentors. 

The call will remain open until 30 April 2026, learn more about the application process on the FIDELIS website.

Resource of the month

Jisc Digital Maturity Model
The maturity model for digital transformation, designed by Jisc, allows users to assess the digital maturity levels of all aspects of their organisation and identify areas for improvement.  The model provides a structure to help UK Higher Education (HE) providers assess their digital maturity across all aspects of business. The structure aligns with the Jisc framework for digital transformation, providing a common language for HE providers to discuss digital transformation and share best practices. 

More information on the maturity model can be accessed on the Jisc website.

From the community

Strategies for Acquiring Access to Generative AI Services and Systems
This report, drafted by the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), documents two executive round table sessions on the Strategies for Acquiring Access to Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). The two sessions brought together institutional partners to discuss key digital information issues and their strategic implications. The report summarises some of the issues and strategies organisations were exploring at that time. 

Read the full report on the CNI website. 

For your calendar

DCC’s Digital Research Infrastructure Webinar Series
Getting to know the Archaeology Data Service 
14:00 – 15:00 UTC+1, 6 May 2026 | Online 
Join us in May to learn more about the Archaeology Data Service (ADS) from our guest speaker, Nicky Garland, who leads training and communications for the service. The ADS is the leading accredited repository in the UK for archaeology and historic environment data, with over 25 years of experience supporting research, learning, and teaching with free, high quality and dependable resources.

Learn more on our website.

Get involved in the DRI Series 
If you work on a research infrastructure project or initiative and are interested in being a guest speaker, please email us - info@dcc.ac.uk.

BioFAIR Showcase
14-15 May 2026 | Cambridge
In March, BioFAIR joined the second Digital Research Infrastructure webinar, introducing their services and ongoing project work (the recording can be viewed on our website). Next month the team are hosting a BioFAIR showcase in Cambridge. The purpose of the two-day event is to bring together researchers, infrastructure leaders, service providers and the wider community to highlight progress, share ideas, and shape the future of the BioFAIR programme. 

Find out more and register via the BioFAIR website.

...and finally

BioFAIR Showcase
14-15 May 2026 | Cambridge
In March, BioFAIR joined the second Digital Research Infrastructure webinar, introducing their services and ongoing project work (the recording can be viewed on our website). Next month the team are hosting a BioFAIR showcase in Cambridge. The purpose of the two-day event is to bring together researchers, infrastructure leaders, service providers and the wider community to highlight progress, share ideas, and shape the future of the BioFAIR programme. 

Find out more and register via the BioFAIR website.

Kevin Ashley, DCC Director