Mission
GBC’s mission is to safeguard the world’s open life science, biological and biomedical data.
Vision
The GBC envisions a world in which biodata, essential to science, are freely and openly available to all, with long-term access assured through the tools and services offered by global biodata resources.
Values
We work to ensure free and equitable access to life science, biological and biomedical data for all citizens of the world. Our core values are; focus, accountability, collaboration and excellence.
Aim 1: To be a forum of funders of biodata resources enabling better coordination and sharing of approaches and strategies for efficient management and growth of this infrastructure
Goal 1
Expand the participation of global research funders in the work of the GBC — increasing our reach, effectively engaging funders and gaining their buy-in around our goals.
Goal 2
Enhance cross-funder dialogue, exchange and cooperation around funders’ support for biodata resources and the long-term sustainability of the global biodata infrastructure.
Goal 3
Demonstrate and advocate the current and future need for, and the value and impact of enhanced and sustained cross-funder support of biodata resources.
Aim 2: To stabilise and ensure sustainable financial support for the global biodata infrastructure, with a focus on an identified and prioritised set of Global Core Biodata Resources that are crucial for sustaining the broader infrastructure
Goal 4
Develop and implement new models for cooperative cross-funder support of biodata resources.
Goal 5
Characterise the full diversity of biodata resources globally and enhance funding and sustainability of the global biodata infrastructure as a whole.
Goal 6
Identify and maintain a list of Global Core Biodata Resources (GCBRs) and engage and work with them to advance the work of the GBC and thereby their sustainability.
Priorities for 2026-2030
In 2026, GBC launched a new and accelerated strategy to respond to rapidly increasing pressure on the biodata ecosystem from fragmented funding models, insufficient co-ordinated long-term infrastructure support, rapidly advancing data science methods, such as AI and risk of reduced trust in globally shared open data relating to global inequity.
Over the next few years, GBC will;
- strengthen the GBC narrative and visibility,
- diversify and expand the GBC community,
- provide greater value to funders and GCBRs,
- develop practical sustainability approaches,
- improve analytical capability to support funding decisions.
What we expect to achieve
By the end of 2030, we will have:
- Implemented a new narrative for GBC and produce engaging communications.
- Appointed new members to the Board and Scientific Advisory Committee.
- Formed relationships with new national funders as well as funders from other sectors such as industry, philanthropic organisations and charities.
- Undertaken a new Global Core Biodata Resource selection round.
- Expanded impact and usage analytics.
- Launched sustainability pilot projects.
- Engaged the existing and potential partners through webinars and events.
- Continued to publish the outcomes of GBC activities through whitepapers, reports and publications.
Download the GBC Strategy 2026-2030
Strategy 2023-2026
By the end of 2026, we will have:
- Increased the levels of funding and sustainability of the GCBRs and of the global biodata resource infrastructure.
- Grown our membership to include at least 15 global funders and broadened global representation across our membership.
- Raised the profile of biodata sustainability through campaigns and advocacy, securing widespread support and commitments from global funding and research organisations.
- Established a stable and representative list of GCBRs, whose members actively contribute to the work of GBC.
- Published a series of consultation papers and white papers resulting from our working groups, attracting extensive input from our communities.
- Developed a portfolio of high-quality and widely used resources, including case studies, commissioned research and published papers — that stimulate debate and influence policy change.
- Piloted at least one new cooperative funding model in partnership with our member funders.