STICHTING DTL PROJECTS

Their core work

DTL Projects (Dutch Techcentre for Life Sciences) is a Netherlands-based foundation that builds and operates data management infrastructure for the life sciences across Europe. They specialize in making research data FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) — developing standards, stewardship practices, and training programs that help research institutions manage biological and biomedical data responsibly. Their work spans bioinformatics platforms, genomic data infrastructure, and data quality frameworks that underpin large-scale European research initiatives like ELIXIR and the 1+ Million Genomes initiative.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2019), DTL Projects focused on building foundational bioinformatics infrastructure and life science data platforms through ELIXIR-EXCELERATE, covering broad domains including health, agriculture, and biotechnology. From 2019 onward, their work shifted decisively toward FAIR data governance — data management plans, stewardship, quality standards, and long-term sustainability — while also entering the genomics and personalised medicine space through B1MG. The trajectory shows a clear move from infrastructure building to infrastructure governance and policy.

DTL Projects is moving toward data governance policy and health data spaces, positioning them as a go-to partner for projects that need FAIR compliance, genomic data infrastructure, or EOSC integration.

How they like to work

DTL Projects operates exclusively as a participant — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, which suggests they function as a specialist contributor brought in for their data management and FAIR expertise rather than as project leaders. With 123 unique consortium partners across 26 countries, they are well-connected hubs in the European research infrastructure ecosystem. Their repeated involvement in ELIXIR-branded projects indicates loyalty to a core network while their range of partners shows they integrate easily into large, multi-national consortia.

With 123 unique partners across 26 countries, DTL Projects has a broad pan-European network concentrated in the life sciences and research infrastructure community. Their partnerships span nearly the entire EU, reflecting the continent-wide reach of ELIXIR and EOSC initiatives.

What sets them apart

DTL Projects occupies a distinctive niche as a Dutch foundation dedicated entirely to FAIR data services for life sciences — they are not a university or a company, but a specialized enabler that helps others manage research data properly. Their involvement in both the ELIXIR ecosystem and the 1+ Million Genomes initiative gives them rare cross-cutting visibility into how data standards apply from basic bioinformatics to clinical genomics. For consortium builders, they bring proven FAIR data management expertise, established connections to the EOSC ecosystem, and a track record of delivering data stewardship components in large infrastructure projects.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ELIXIR-EXCELERATE
  Their largest project by far (EUR 1.3M), a flagship effort to fast-track the ELIXIR research infrastructure across European life sciences.
• B1MG
  Part of the high-profile Beyond 1 Million Genomes initiative connecting genomic data infrastructure with personalised medicine and EOSC.
• FAIRsFAIR
  A defining project for European FAIR data policy — developed certification, compliance frameworks, and competence centers that shaped how research data is managed across disciplines.