Status and approach

The DTL concept has been shaped in close consultation with a large number of
individuals of leading organisations, including NFU, VSNU, research centres and top institutes, biobanking initiatives, industry, NWO, ZonMW, NGI, and relevant ministries.
The DTL data integration and computation centre will be set up in a close link to
SURFnet, BiG Grid, COMMIT and the emerging e-science centre. The ‘lead centres’
moving towards DTL, including NBIC, NCSB, NMC, NPC are committed to financially cover the planning and initiation phase, which has started in 2010 and became formalised in May 2011.

A preparatory DTL management structure is being set up, involving a highlevel advisory board to guide the DTL concept towards a formal presentation to funding organisations, government, industry and other agencies. As part of this process the involved life science technology communities are preparing business plans for the structure and business model of the individual techcentres. A comprehensive DTL business plan will be developed in collaboration with all partners in the private and the public sectors, first phase Summer 2011, and detailed late 2011.