International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF)
Modern neuroscience depends on data, software, digital research infrastructures, and collaboration across disciplines and borders. Yet differences in standards, governance, technical systems, and skills can make it difficult to share resources, reproduce findings, and turn research investment into lasting scientific value.
The International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF) helps overcome these barriers. From its Secretariat at Karolinska Institutet, INCF connects researchers, tool developers, infrastructure providers, funders, industry, publishers, and international neuroscience initiatives to develop shared solutions. Our goal is to make neuroscience data, tools, standards, and infrastructures more interoperable, reusable, and globally coordinated.
How can INCF help?
Researchers and research teams can work with INCF to:
- Identify and implement relevant standards and best practices
- Improve the FAIRness, reproducibility, and reusability of data, tools, and research outputs
- Connect with international research infrastructures, technical experts, and neuroscience initiatives
- Develop training and capacity-building activities
- Coordinate multi-institutional collaborations between technology developers and neuroscience researchers
- Address interoperability, governance, and responsible data-sharing challenges
- Increase the visibility, adoption, and sustainability of research tools and resources
If you are developing a research project, digital tool, data resource, training programme, or international consortium, INCF can help connect your work with the wider neuroscience ecosystem.
What we do
INCF organises its work around three connected areas:
Global coordination and convening
We provide a neutral international forum where neuroscience initiatives, research infrastructures, funders, industry, and research communities can align priorities and address shared challenges. Our convening activities are designed to produce practical outcomes, including recommendations, guidance, partnerships, and new collaborative work.
Capacity building and knowledge transfer
We help researchers, educators, developers, and organisations build the skills needed for data-intensive, open, and reproducible neuroscience. Our activities include international training, mentorship, educational guidance, and open platforms for learning and community support.
Global standards and interoperability
We support the development, evaluation, adoption, and long-term stewardship of community standards and best practices. This work helps neuroscience data, tools, models, and infrastructures work together and supports FAIR, reproducible, scalable research ready for responsible use with emerging technologies.
Resources and programmes
INCF develops and supports resources that researchers and organisations can use in practice, including:
- The Standards and Best Practices Portfolio
- The FAIR Infrastructure and Science Gateways Portfolio
- TrainingSpace, an open platform for neuroscience education
- Neurostars, an international question-and-answer forum for neuroscience
- Consulting services on developing and implementing data management plans and FAIR
- Mentorship Programme for neuroscience software and infrastructure developers through Google Summer of Code
- Contracts to develop research and data sharing infrastructure to support international research projects
Who we work with
The INCF network brings together universities, research institutes, neuroscience initiatives, infrastructure and data providers, non-profit organisations, funders, publishers, and companies. Partnerships are central to how we work. Rather than duplicating existing expertise or infrastructure, INCF connects organisations and communities so that their resources can be more widely used, better integrated, and more sustainable.
Contact INCF if you are:
- Planning a national or international neuroscience collaboration
- Developing a tool, standard, repository, or research infrastructure
- Seeking guidance on FAIR data, interoperability, or responsible data sharing
- Looking for training or capacity-building support
- Building a community around a shared scientific challenge
- Interested in connecting your work with international neuroscience initiatives
Whether you need technical guidance, international coordination, training support, or access to a global network of expertise, we welcome the opportunity to explore how INCF can support your work.
Learn more about INCF
If you are curious about our tools and services, visit the INCF website or contact us at info@incf.org.