Knowledge institutions join forces for integrated research

Ten leading knowledge institutions, including MARIN, are joining forces in the new programme DigiLab Applied Knowledge. This initiative, supported by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, focuses on developing an innovative digital research facility.

For MARIN, this collaboration marks an important step forward in the digitalisation of maritime research. DigiLab Applied Knowledge simplifies the secure and controlled exchange of data, models and computing power with partners such as Deltares, KNMI, TNO and NLR. This allows us to contribute even more effectively to sustainable and safe shipping.

Digital collaboration as a driver of innovation

DigiLab Applied Knowledge enables the development of cross-disciplinary solutions to urgent challenges such as nitrogen emissions, pressure on land and water space, water safety and the vulnerability of critical infrastructure. By integrating data and models from different domains, new knowledge is created that is directly applicable in practice.
For MARIN, this offers opportunities to combine our simulations, measurements and predictive models with insights from fields such as meteorology, ecology or spatial planning. This integrated approach can, for example, help assess the reliability of inland shipping during droughts or the impact of offshore wind farms on maritime traffic.

"DigiLab offers the unique opportunity to combine data, models and computing power securely and manageably between member research organisations, governments and industry, to increase innovation and impact. This is how MARIN facilitates the maritime sector in realising sustainable and safe shipping."
Timo Verwoest, MARIN

Data sharing as a key to knowledge creation

Not only the participating institutes – MARIN, Deltares, KNMI, NLR, RIVM, TNO, Wageningen Research, Naturalis, NFI and RCE– will benefit from DigiLab Applied Knowledge. The programme is also designed to enable other organisations, such as governments, knowledge institutions and market parties, to make use of the developed architecture standards and agreements. This will allow them to unlock and share data in a secure and responsible way for applied research.
Several external parties are already involved in the development phase. DigiLab is therefore evolving into an open and future-oriented facility in which institutes, governments and companies can fully leverage the potential of data to address interdisciplinary challenges.

European standards, shared values

A key principle of DigiLab is that data are stored and shared in accordance with the FAIR principles: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. This approach ensures compatibility with broader initiatives such as the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).
At the same time, MARIN retains ownership of its data and models. Thanks to DigiLab’s decentralised structure, each partner remains in control of which data and models they share, with whom, and under what conditions.

Step-by-step development

DigiLab Applied Knowledge will be developed step-by-step over the coming years, with the goal of finding general solutions to the recurring challenges of data sharing. By 2030, the aim is to have a fully operational digital research facility in which MARIN works together with partners from academia, government and industry to tackle the major societal challenges of our time.