5 February 2026 Update
In-person places have all been offered. We are now placing people on a waitlist to attend in person. Please still apply with your attendance preferences on our registration form because places may become available. We will definitely offer you an online place, but we may be able to convert this to an in-person one.We will notify you if we can offer you an in-person place by Monday, 2 March.
Express your interest to attend today!
In-person places are limited to just over 100, and there is competition for these. If you are unsuccessful in your application for an in-person place, you will be offered an online one. We will prioritise those who volunteer to contribute to the sessions and those who have not attended in person before.
What is the DRI Retreat?
This event is open to all digital research technical professionals, as well as those working in academia, funding bodies, and industry. It is a week-long discussion-based meeting, where each day focuses on a different priority of the UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure Programme, supporting the UK's goal of building a strong, connected, and sustainable digital research system. These priorities, while distinct, are interconnected and work together to enhance DRI and deliver better research solutions for the UK research community.
These priorities are :
- Interconnected DRI
- Human DRI
- FAIR DRI
- Sustainable DRI
The first four days of the retreat will focus on one of these themes, and on the final day, we will discuss Sovereign AI. The structure of each session is yet to be confirmed, and the format may vary (e.g., a panel, a roundtable discussion, or a workshop). You can find out more about these below.
Attending the Retreat
Accommodation (B&B) and lunch are included, and participants are only asked to purchase their travel and evening meal. We have a limited number of bursaries which can be applied for if you require financial assistance. We encourage people to attend in-person for the entire week, but appreciate that this is sometimes not possible, so there are also online and hybrid (a mix of in-person and online) options to attend.
Session options
Jump to discussion topics: Interconnected DRI | Human DRI | FAIR DRI | Sustainable DRI | Sovereign AI
Monday 23rd March
Interconnected DRI - Stop building local empires, start building national bridges
“We aim to break down silos and promote collaboration within the DRI landscape by creating a more interconnected, open, inclusive, and user-friendly infrastructure. This involves fostering community engagement, promoting the creation of federated infrastructure, and ensuring that DRI funding addresses the technical challenges of operating across disciplines.” UKRI
- The Hidden REF
Goal: Build awareness of the importance of DRI professionals within the wider academic community - Interconnected Professionals
Goal: Explore the role of professional societies or special interest groups in building a profession - Effective communication
Goal: Understanding communication hurdles between DRI professionals and researchers and how to break the silo mentality - United Federation of DRI
Goal: Build awareness of federation activities - what works and where are the current gaps.
Jump to discussion topics: Interconnected DRI | Human DRI | FAIR DRI | Sustainable DRI | Sovereign AI
Tuesday 24th March
Human DRI - Building Careers: You are not 'support staff', you are infrastructure
“We understand that DRI starts with the people who build, maintain, and upgrade it. By recognising their crucial role within DRI, promoting their careers, and supporting their professional development, we aim to foster a supportive culture and ensure a skilled and diverse DRI workforce.” UKRI
- Rethinking Career Progression in DRI
Goal: Explore how career pathways can recognise technical expertise and non-traditional pathways to employment and promotion. - Mentorship Models and Impact
Goal: Define effective mentorship practices and explore innovative models. - Practical Leadership Development without Formal Programmes
Goal: Explore ways to build leadership skills through projects and informal opportunities. - Culture, Inclusivity, and Strategic Focus
Goal: Strategic thinking and strategies that foster inclusive cultures. - Leadership vs Management – Finding Your Fit
Goal: Help understand the difference between leadership and management to assess your potential.
Jump to discussion topics: Interconnected DRI | Human DRI | FAIR DRI | Sustainable DRI | Sovereign AI
Wednesday 25th March
FAIR DRI - Data is everything
“We will ensure that research infrastructure is easily accessible, interoperable, and reusable by driving adoption of the FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) principles. This enhances research efficiency and fosters a more collaborative research environment.” UKRI
- Funding, Policy, and Sustainability
Goal: Address financial and policy challenges in long-term data stewardship. - Data Integrity, Accessibility, and Governance
Goal: Ensure long-term usability and accountability for research data. - Data Storage, Culture, and Future Risks
Goal: Tackle cultural awareness and long-term sustainability challenges. - Data Management Risks, Lessons Learned, and Cultural Change
Goal: Learn from failures and build a culture of proactive data management. - Making Data Management Plans (DMPs) Useful
Goal: Transform DMPs from a compliance exercise into a practical tool.
Jump to discussion topics: Interconnected DRI | Human DRI | FAIR DRI | Sustainable DRI | Sovereign AI
Thursday 26th March
Sustainable DRI - Proofing the Future: "If it's not green, it won't get funded."
“We focus on ensuring the long-term health of DRI by addressing efficiency, security, environmental and financial challenges to create a sustainable DRI ecosystem.” UKRI
- Lifecycle Management and Shared Infrastructure
Goal: Address sustainability in the hardware lifecycle and collaborative facilities. - Policy, Governance, and Accountability
Goal: Define governance frameworks and accountability for environmental impact. - Ethical and Sustainable Industry Partnerships
Goal: Define principles for partnerships that align with societal and sustainability goals. - Answering funding calls
Goal: Work in groups to develop an application for a funding call and then assess its merits
Jump to discussion topics: Interconnected DRI | Human DRI | FAIR DRI | Sustainable DRI | Sovereign AI
Friday 27th March
Sovereign AI - Skills to work in a GenAI world
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities are developing at an extraordinary pace. In an AI-enabled world, it matters who influences and builds the models, data, and AI infrastructure that are increasingly present in our lives.” UK Govt DSIT
- Ethics, Culture, and Misconduct in AI Adoption
Goal: Address cultural and ethical challenges in AI use and what we should be doing as DRI professionals. - Responsible AI in Research – Governance and Integrity
Goal: Define policies and roles for ethical AI use in research. - Workforce, Skills, and Future Roles in an AI-Driven Environment
Goal: Prepare DRI professionals for evolving roles and skill requirements. - Infrastructure, Capability, and Sustainability for AI Workloads
Goal: Plan for scalable, sustainable AI infrastructure. - Methods, Models & Reproducibility
Goal: Clarify the relationship between AI and traditional code practices and their relative importance
Jump to discussion topics: Interconnected DRI | Human DRI | FAIR DRI | Sustainable DRI | Sovereign AI