UCL to host workshops shaping the future of national federated compute services
University College London and partners are running a series of free workshops in early 2026 focused on the future of national federated compute services, as demand grows for more inclusive digital research infrastructure across the UK.
University College London is hosting a new series of workshops aimed at shaping the future of national federated compute services in the UK, bringing together researchers, data professionals, and public sector practitioners to examine how digital research infrastructure is designed and governed.
The initiative reflects growing attention on how large-scale compute services support research, innovation, and skills development across education, industry, and public services.
Focus on inclusive digital research infrastructure
The workshops form part of the project Inclusive Futures: Cultural User Stories and Mapping Pathways for National Federated Compute Services, led by UCL Knowledge Lab in partnership with the STFC Hartree Centre and Edinburgh Futures Institute. The project is funded through the UK Research and Innovation National Federated Compute Services NetworkPlus.
According to information shared by UCL on LinkedIn, the workshops are designed to explore how people engage with federated digital research infrastructures, as well as why some communities remain excluded from current provision. Participants will work through future scenarios, identify barriers to access, and contribute to recommendations for more inclusive national compute services.
The sessions are open to researchers and practitioners working across academia, industry, and the public sector, including those already using federated compute services and those whose needs are not currently met.
Workshops planned across three UK locations
The workshop series will run across three locations in early 2026. The London session will take place on February 17 at the UCL Knowledge Lab. A second workshop will be held on February 24 at the Hartree Centre in Daresbury, followed by a third event on March 17 at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, University of Edinburgh. All sessions are scheduled to run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. GMT and are free to attend.
Each workshop will follow a structured agenda, including sessions focused on exploring future scenarios for national federated compute services, creating alternative futures, and developing practical recommendations. Organizers say the format is designed to surface a range of user perspectives and support collaborative futures thinking rather than technical training.
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