Call for Contributions to the 3rd Base4NFDI User Conference (UC4B2026)

Background and Scope
Today, research data is still often distributed across numerous repositories, hard to locate, and available only for a limited time. The NFDI seeks to improve the findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability (FAIRness) of research data.
Within this framework, Base4NFDI integrates and establishes Basic Services – shared, interoperable solutions that address cross-disciplinary needs. Existing services are being adapted and extended to support researchers from other domains, helping to avoid redundant developments and foster sustainable, community-driven infrastructures. The long-term goal is to shape, together, the evolving service portfolio that Base4NFDI contributes both to the NFDI ecosystem and to the broader RDM landscape together.

The Base4NFDI User Conference (UC4B) has become a central forum for presenting, discussing, and operationalizing current developments in Base4NFDI-funded services, fostering exchange on incubator projects, community integration efforts, and strategic service topics across the NFDI. This year marks the third edition of the conference.
The 2026 program welcomes contributions from across the NFDI and beyond. Members of consortia, sections, working groups, basic service teams, and external initiatives are invited to participate and share their ideas and experiences as well as best practices.

Call for Contributions
We invite the submission of abstracts showcasing activities related to Base4NFDI and basic services in the context of the NFDI.

Possible types of contributions:

Incubator Presentations: Base4NFDI Service Incubators are an efficient way to test, prepare, and enable the integration of basic services into NFDI consortia. We invite reports from incubators in every state showcasing their added value. We especially encourage presentations that tell the story behind a challenge, the approach taken, and the lessons learned in an easy-to-follow manner. Possible aspects include: what community RDM problem the incubator project aims to solve, the motivation for establishing the incubator project, preparatory steps, collaboration between consortia and basic service teams, and the specific benefits emerging from these partnerships.
Accepted contributions are expected to be allocated approximately 15 minutes including time for discussions; the final program may vary depending on the number of accepted submissions.
Talks: A broader slot for short, accessible presentations in the plenary. Possible topics include but are not limited to:
– User stories beyond basic service incubators
– How basic services solved disciplinary or consortia challenge
– How basic services encouraged data sharing across communities
– Operating models for basic services
– Identified cross-cutting needs and potentially missing basic services
– Insights and synergies from/with services outside the NFDI
Posters: The most inclusive category, addressing all topics related to basic services. Submissions are encouraged from consortia, sections, basic service teams and external initiatives alike. Accepted posters will be presented in a one-minute madness session during the conference.

When submitting, please indicate the category most relevant to your contribution. The program committee reserves the right to reassign accepted abstracts to a different category.

By contributing, participants can increase the visibility of their work, exchange insights with stakeholders from across the NFDI, and help identify opportunities for broader adoption and integration of services.

Submission Details
– Abstract length: maximum 500 words
– Format: please use the official template and attach it to your submission.
– Language: English
– Submission deadline: July 22, 2026
– Submission portal: https://events.gwdg.de/event/1337/abstracts/
– Review process: coordinated with NFDI sections and Base4NFDI staff; final decisions will be made by the program chairs
– Participation: at least one author per accepted contribution must attend the conference in person (no virtual participation)
– Publication: slides and posters will be made available on Zenodo after the event; accepted abstracts may be revised before publication

Further details about the event can be found here: https://events.gwdg.de/e/uc4b2026
For inquiries, please contact: [base4nfdi-uc4b@lists.nfdi.de]

The Program Chairs
Reinhard Altenhöner, Raphael Ritz, Sonja Schimmler, Lukas Weimer