IDCC27 Workshop 1: Collaborative by design

Workshop 1 : Collaborative by design: Using the Business Model Canvas to critically assess sustainability of research data services

Workshop Description:

Digital curation depends on a growing ecosystem of research data services and infrastructures, yet many communities still struggle to turn promising prototypes into robust, long-term offerings. As the OECD has noted almost ten years ago, this also holds true for many repositories. Service providers themselves must therefore lay the foundation for such sustainability. This full-day interactive workshop is aimed at infrastructure providers and uses the Business Model Canvas to examine the viability of research data services.

Through short input presentations and structured breakout sessions, participants will shape a service’s value proposition, user personas, KPIs, and funding streams. Rather than assuming that all infrastructures should operate as market-driven businesses, participants will critically reflect on when business-case thinking is helpful and when it might need adapting for mission-driven, publicly funded, and community-governed contexts.

Examples from initiatives such as Germany’s NFDI will serve as reference points for discussing alternative pathways to sustainability and resilience. Participants are very much encouraged to submit their own real-world examples for in-depth examination during the workshop.

Building on peer feedback and group discussion, each breakout group will work on one service example and refine its canvas to shape a nuanced and realistic sustainability narrative: identifying where a business case can be strengthened, where adjustments might be needed, and which concrete next steps could improve the service’s long-term viability. Key insights, example canvases, and recurring patterns will be documented to support broader knowledge transfer within the emerging community of practice around service sustainability.

Participants will:

• gain practical tools to shape value propositions, user personas, KPIs, and funding strategies;
• work hands-on with real service examples and receive peer feedback;
• leave with concrete insights and next steps they can apply directly to their own services;
• and network with other service providers.

Agenda

8:30 - 9:00 Registration

9:00-9:45 Warm Up & Introduction to the Business Model Canvas Method

9:45:00-10:30 Target Groups & Value Proposition

10:30-11:00 Coffee Break

11:00-11:45 KPIs that fit your Value Proposition

11:45-12:00 Presentation and summary before lunch

12:00-13:00 Lunch Break

13:00-14:00 Operations of your Service (Key Activities, Partnerships, Ressources)

14:00-14:15 Coffee Break

14:15-15:15 Costs & Sources of Revenue

15:15-15:45 Critical Reflection

15:45-16:00 Closing & Next Steps