NBIC Vision

Innovation in life sciences R&D requires seamless integration of life science data, information and models in the quantitative analysis of biological systems.

NBIC Mission

Create an internationally operating centre of excellence in bioinformatics research and education that supports life science R&D.

Rationale

Bioinformatics drives the convergence of biology and technology disciplines, skills and infrastructures and is key to current data intensive life sciences R&D. The broad field is under accelerated international development as biological systems turn out to be more complex than previously realised, and data sources are growing rapidly due to the ongoing flow of new key technologies. Re-use of large and information-rich datasets at an international scale is an emerging challenge. In fact, for any data driven research programme in contemporary life sciences, bioinformatics has become indispensible.

More often than not, the capacity and expertise needed to tackle bioinformatics challenges exceed the scope of the individual data generating institutes.

In order to avoid stagnation of discoveries and to seize the innovation potential of its vital life science R&D sectors, the Netherlands needs a strong bioinformatics knowledge infrastructure. Such an infrastructure combines excellence in bioinformatics research with the skills and capacity to implement computational methods and infrastructures in life science R&D in academia, industry, and the clinic.