Expertise
We support all VIB Centers and Cores with scalable infrastructure and expert tools to increase the quality, standardization, reproducibility, and efficiency across the data life cycle - from project planning and data acquisition to knowledge generation, and publication and archiving of the research data according to FAIR principles.
Compute
Compute
Through our Compute Cluster, we provide high-performance computational resources for tasks that require substantial processing power, memory, and storage. Key features include:
- Flexible access options: connect via the command line or use the intuitive Open OnDemand web portal.
- Interactive analysis tools: JupyterLab, RStudio Server, and VS Code Web Server are available directly through Open OnDemand.
- Built-in molecular visualization: the Mol* Viewer lets you explore protein structures straight from the cluster without the need for downloads.
In addition to our cluster, we also operate a the useGalaxy.be platform, offering ready-to-use bioinformatics tools, reference datasets, workflows, and on-demand tutorials. For more information, visit our documentation.
Sensitive data
GDPR Sensitive data
To support research involving human data, we offer the Secure Compute Cluster, a controlled-access environment for analyzing GDPR sensitive data. Access can be requested via Connect (through the Compute form, which asks whether human data is involved). Encrypted storage is also available for this type of data.
Looking ahead, our long-term strategy is to develop a Secure Processing Environment (SPE), designed to bring the analysis to the data rather than moving sensitive datasets. To achieve this for VIB, we actively collaborate in European initiatives such as 1+ Million Genomes, the Genomic Data Infrastructure and Genome of Europe
Data Center
Data Center
Our Data Center forms the backbone of VIB’s research IT infrastructure. It provides hardware, security, and authentication systems that enable the delivery of reliable compute and storage resources to the VIB community.
Beyond servers and storage, the team ensures high availability, scalability, and performance, maintaining a secure and resilient environment for research data and computational workloads. Their work supports Data Core’s services, from high-performance computing and secure data analysis to collaborative platforms and cloud-based tools.
Data Management
We provide platforms, tools, and guidelines to support effective data management. Our current catalogue includes:
- An Electronic Lab Notebook - eLabJournal
- Research data management guidance - RDMkit
- A data deposition tool for genomic data - the ENA data submission Toolbox.
The team is actively working to expand these offerings, with the goal of providing a comprehensive set of data management tools. We are also closely involved in the Flemish Research Data Network (FRDN) and the European Open Science Cloud.
Data Management
ELIXIR
The Data Core team collaborates closely with experts from the ELIXIR consortium, a European research infrastructure that connects life science research groups. We host the Belgian ELIXIR Node, which is integral to this EU network. ELIXIR facilitates data discovery and sharing, expertise exchange, and the development of standards and best practices through its network of experienced professionals. This broad consortium also enables us to collaborate effectively and address common challenges across institutions.