Poster on funding sustainability for digital research resources for Science Gateways 2022

1. Lessons Learned on the Path to Sustainable Funding
Joshua Young
Phoenix Bioinformatics
josh@phoenixbioinformatics.org
A Note on Criticality:
• Critical Function Identification – method to
identify essential functions in a system [1]
• Selection and viability of funding models
dependent on measures of criticality and
user numbers
Funding Approaches:
• Government or Foundation Grants
• Host institution sponsorship
• Corporate sponsorship
• Secondary services
• User-backed funding models
Consider DRR motivations:
• A resource with stable workflows
• A development platform
• Technology flexible or committed
• Discipline-centered or user-centered
• PI-driven or community-driven
This poster is a synthesis of Phoenix Bioinformatics more than 8 years supporting the
sustainability of digital research resources (DRR) with a focus on user-backed funding models.
Questions for user-backed funding models:
• All services or premium services?
• Asymmetrical or symmetrical?
• Individual and/or institutional?
• Mandatory or voluntary?
References
[1] Paulsen, C., Boyens, J., Bartol, N., & Winkler, K. (2017). Criticality
analysis process model: Prioritizing systems and components (No.
NIST Internal or Interagency Report (NISTIR) 8179 (Draft)). National
Institute of Standards and Technology.
Consider funding requirements:
• Needs for operation and development
• Ideal number of funding models
• Alignment between models and purpose
• Timing
Characterizing Community:
• Identify User Needs
• Identify criticality
• Identify Payor needs
• Understand user workflows
• Understand payor budgets
• Consider payment mechanisms
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