Partnerships
Research IT partnerships focus on working closely with researchers, professional services, and external organisations to co‑design and deliver effective digital research solutions. This includes collaboration across University teams (such as Research Services, Library, and central IT) as well as with external partners like funders, national research infrastructure providers, and technology suppliers.
People engage with Research IT partnerships when their work depends on shared expertise, relationships, or infrastructure that sits beyond a single team or system. Strong partnerships help strengthen grant proposals, enable access to specialist platforms or facilities, reduce duplication, and ensure research projects are supported in a coordinated, sustainable way from idea through to delivery.
Our Services
Select the tabs below to learn more about the services we can support you with.
Description and Features
Research IT collaborates with the University's Research Software Engineering (RSE) group to provide integrated support for projects requiring both digital infrastructure and bespoke software or data analysis capabilities.
This partnership enables Research IT to:
- Connect research projects with experienced software engineers who can develop, optimise, and maintain research code and data pipelines.
- Provide a joined-up service covering both the underlying hardware and network infrastructure and the software systems that run on it.
- Support projects from initial design through to deployment and ongoing operation of digital research solutions.
If your project requires custom software development, data analysis pipelines, or specialist engineering support, Research IT can help broker the right resource and advise on how to cost RSE time into funding applications.
Support and availability
Please contact Research IT to discuss RSE collaboration requirements and to understand how to factor RSE support into your project planning and grant applications.
Description and Features
Research IT – ADA is a team established to support the provision of computing infrastructure for researchers engaged in Data Science and AI projects, primarily within the field of Computer Science. We serve as an enabler for research groups to access computing infrastructure in alignment with the University of Exeter’s Strategy 2030. The team also manage system deployments, upgrades, baseline environment validation, and the design and maintenance of authentication and access architectures.
Description and Features
Research IT actively participates in national and international digital research and computing communities, ensuring that the University of Exeter remains connected to the broader landscape of HPC, research infrastructure, and sustainability initiatives. This engagement benefits researchers by keeping the University informed of new opportunities, best practices, and collaborative programmes.
Communities and groups in which Research IT holds active membership or representation include:
- GW4 — A stregic alliance between the four universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter.
- HPC-SIG — the UK HPC Special Interest Group.
- Software Sustainability Institute (SSI) — promoting sustainable research software practices.
- GreenDISC — focused on environmentally sustainable digital research infrastructure.
- UK-DRI (UK Dementia Research Institute) initiative — supporting digital infrastructure for dementia research.
Research IT can facilitate connections between researchers and these communities where relevant to specific projects or funding opportunities.
Support and availability
Please contact Research IT to discuss how community connections might benefit your research project or proposal.
Links
Description and Features
Research IT is committed to remaining at the forefront of evolving data management standards, ensuring that the University's infrastructure and practices align with international best practice and community expectations.
The team holds active representation in key data standards and research infrastructure communities, including:
- BioFAIR — promoting FAIR data principles in the biological sciences.
- DOME-ML — developing reporting standards for machine learning in the life sciences.
- Research Data Alliance (RDA) — a global community developing and adopting data infrastructure and standards.
- UKRI-DRI — the UK Research and Innovation Digital Research Infrastructure programme.
This engagement ensures that Exeter researchers benefit from the latest developments in data standards, and that the University's data infrastructure is aligned with funder expectations and international norms.
Support and availability
Please contact Research IT via the Service Desk for guidance on how specific data standards or community requirements may affect your research project.