We are delighted to invite you to our inaugural BioFAIR Showcase. Join us for a two-day in-person event bringing together researchers, infrastructure leaders, service providers and the wider community to highlight progress, share ideas, and shape the future of the programme.
📅 Thursday 14 May 2026 | 12:00–17:00
📅 Friday 15 May 2026 | 09:00–15:00
📍 Hilton Cambridge City Centre
20 Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DT
What to expect
Join us to explore practical ways to embed FAIR practices into your research workflows. Whether you’re new to FAIR or looking to streamline data management, the event is designed to give you actionable insights and connections to help your work.
At the Showcase, you’ll be able to:
- Discover emerging BioFAIR services and tools to support research teams
- See demonstrations that simplify data management
- Connect with collaborators, infrastructure providers, BioFAIR Fellows and Pathfinder projects
- Engage in discussions shaping the next phase of BioFAIR and the future of UK life sciences
The event will combine talks, demos, and discussions, giving you a chance to learn from the community and explore how BioFAIR solutions can directly support your research.
Attendance
To help us shape a vibrant and representative event, we are initially inviting Expressions of Interest. This will allow us to understand the level of demand and ensure broad participation across the community.
Please note that submitting an Expression of Interest does not confirm a place. We will follow up shortly with confirmed invitations and further details about the programme.
Who should attend
You know FAIR data matters — but knowing where to start is another question.
The BioFAIR Showcase is open to anyone working in data-intensive life sciences and interested in taking a FAIR journey, but unsure where to begin. If you are curious about what BioFAIR can do to help you and want to make your work more Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable, then this event is for you!
Join us to hear what the BioFAIR community has been building and discover practical ways these tools, services and collaborations can support your research.
Day 1 – Thursday 14 May 2026
The Showcase will begin with a networking lunch from 12:00–13:00, offering a relaxed opportunity to meet fellow participants and reconnect with colleagues.
The afternoon will feature keynotes and case studies that will show firsthand how research communities have integrated FAIR practices in their domain. You will also learn of BioFAIR’s progress to date and of opportunities to engage with the programme. These sessions are designed to provide practical insights you can take back to your own workflows and spark discussion.
Following the afternoon programme (ending around 17:00), we’ll continue the discussions at an evening networking reception and dinner, running until approximately 21:00.
A full agenda will be shared with confirmed participants ahead of the event.
Day 2 – Friday 15 May 2026
The second day will begin at 09:00 with opportunities to dive deep into your own FAIR challenges and contribute to strategy discussions for infrastructure partners to reflect on priorities for the year ahead.
The event will conclude at 15:00.
A full agenda will be shared with confirmed participants ahead of the event.
Venue and location
The event will be held in central Cambridge at the Hilton Cambridge City Centre, located on Downing Street. The venue is within easy walking distance of many hotels, restaurants, and key transport links across the city.
Its central location makes it straightforward to reach whether travelling by train, air, or road.
Further joining instructions and event information will be shared with registered attendees closer to the event.
Accommodation
As the Showcase spans two days and includes an evening reception, many attendees may wish to stay overnight in Cambridge.
The event venue itself is a hotel, and participants are welcome to book accommodation there directly if they wish to stay on site. There are also a number of hotels within a short walking distance of the venue across the city centre.
Please note that accommodation is not covered by BioFAIR, unless this has been arranged separately for invited speakers or specific participants. All other attendees should arrange and pay for their own hotel bookings.
Travelling to the event
By train
Cambridge is well connected to major UK cities by rail. Cambridge railway station is approximately a 10-minute taxi ride from the venue, around 20–25 minutes by bus, or about a 30-minute walk.
Regular train services operate from London King’s Cross, London Liverpool Street, Birmingham, Norwich, and other major cities.
By air
For international attendees, Cambridge is easily accessible from several airports:
- London Stansted Airport is the closest, with direct rail connections to Cambridge.
- London Luton Airport is around one to one and a half hours away by train or car.
- London Heathrow Airport can be reached in approximately two hours by train or car.
Parking
Limited parking is available at the venue, but spaces cannot be guaranteed or reserved in advance. Because the event is in the centre of Cambridge, we recommend travelling by public transport where possible.
Additional public car parks are available nearby if needed.
Travel Bursaries
The BioFAIR Flexible Fund provides financial support to members of the community to facilitate participation in the inaugural BioFAIR Showcase on 14–15 May 2026 at the Hilton Cambridge City Centre.
Eligibility
This opportunity is open to early-career, mid-career, and established professionals. It is suitable for those pursuing both academic and non-academic technical careers who are interested in making their work more Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR).
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of our funding process. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and career stages. We support flexible arrangements, including support for individuals with caring responsibilities.
Funding Process
Funding will be awarded on a reimbursement basis, which will be made after the event has taken place and upon submission of a valid claim.
Claims must not exceed the rates set out in the UKRI business travel and subsistence policy.
Deadline to apply: Wednesday 15th April 2026 at 4PM BST
Privacy
Information provided during registration will be used to organise and manage the event. Details on how BioFAIR processes personal data can be found in the BioFAIR privacy policy.