The GBC Sustainability Lab Workshop

In August 2025, Research Consulting supported the Global Biodata Coalition (GBC) by facilitating the Sustainability Lab Workshop in Montreal, Canada. This event convened a group of international experts to address the complex challenge of funding and sustaining biodata resource infrastructure in the life sciences.

Our role encompassed pre-workshop planning, agenda development and on-site moderation. Working closely with the GBC Secretariat and the Sustainability Lab steering group, we provided feedback on workshop materials, helped shape the agenda and ensured that the event structure enabled open dialogue and practical outcomes.

The workshop adopted a highly interactive format, combining plenary discussions with focused breakout sessions centred around shared learning and collaborative problem-solving. Participants explored funding models, governance structures and opportunities for cross-sector collaboration.
Key outputs included a set of actionable recommendations for enhancing the sustainability of biodata resources, as well as strengthened networks among stakeholders from academia, funders and industry.