INCF develops career exploration pathways for NeurotechEU and TrainingSpace

INCF is developing a new career exploration resource for TrainingSpace and NeurotechEU, the European University of Brain and Technology, to help students and early-career researchers discover career opportunities across neuroscience, neurotechnology, and related disciplines. The initiative connects five interdisciplinary fields; Theoretical and Systems Neuroscience, Neuroinformatics and Artificial Intelligence, Neurotechnology for Health, Neuromorphic and Robotic Systems, and Neurometaphysics with potential careers, required competencies, and educational pathways.

A central component is the Career Explorer, which provides information about professional roles, responsibilities, skills, educational requirements, and related careers. Complementary learning pathways introduce the scientific challenges and opportunities within each field, helping learners connect their interests and career ambitions with relevant courses, research experiences, internships, and mobility opportunities.

The resources are being developed for integration into INCF TrainingSpace and NeurotechEU Campus+, connecting career exploration with educational opportunities across the alliance. Through this work, INCF aims to help learners navigate the increasingly interdisciplinary landscape of neuroscience and neurotechnology, while making educational and career pathways more visible and accessible.

INCF leads train-the-trainer workshop at EBRAINS conference

At the EBRAINS Conference on Community Involvement, Education, Innovation and Interoperability in June 2026, INCF led a train-the-trainer workshop focused on teaching with digital neuroscience tools. The workshop brought together tool developers, trainers and university educators. Participants worked on defining target audiences, learning objectives and adaptable delivery formats for introducing EBRAINS tools and open-science practices into teaching. The train-the-trainer approach aims to help institutions build their own capacity to deliver practical training, rather than relying exclusively on centrally organized events. Designing materials that can be adapted and reused is particularly important for reaching learners with different backgrounds and resources. The activity formed part of INCF’s wider contribution to education, user engagement and capacity building around shared neuroscience infrastructure.

A framework for evaluating neuroscience tools for education

The Neuroscience Educational Readiness Checklist (NERC) provides a structured approach to evaluating whether digital neuroscience tools and methods are suitable for teaching. Developed through the Scientific Collaboration and Education Theme Team of the GA4GH–INCF–BRIDGE Neuroscience Community, the framework considers four practical dimensions: accessibility, technical readiness, instructor usability and scalability. These considerations help educators determine whether a resource can be incorporated into a course and help developers identify improvements that make their tools easier to teach with. Educational use requires more than scientific functionality. Installation, documentation, learning support and suitability for different teaching environments all influence whether a tool can be adopted successfully. By making these requirements explicit, NERC offers a common starting point for conversations between tool developers and educators. The work reflects INCF’s commitment to connecting standards and best practices with practical neuroscience education.

Preparing neuroscience education for the age of AI

The publication Bridging the Neuro AI Chasm, published in Frontiers in Psychology by members of the GA4GH–INCF–BRIDGE Neuroscience Community, examines how neuroscience education should respond to the growing use of artificial intelligence. The authors argue that teaching AI-related technical skills alone is not enough. Researchers and students also need to develop scientific reasoning, critical evaluation and the ability to use AI tools responsibly in research contexts. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into data analysis and scientific workflows, educational programmes face new questions about what learners need to understand, what they should be able to evaluate independently and how to maintain research quality. The publication contributes to ongoing discussion about preparing neuroscientists to work effectively and critically with emerging computational methods. 

Rethinking how researchers access and use research infrastructures

An INCF workshop in May 2026 examined how research infrastructures attract, onboard and retain users, using EBRAINS as the principal case for discussion. Participants considered onboarding as a continuing process rather than a one-time introduction. Awareness, documentation, training, technical support, governance and community development all affect whether users can engage successfully with complex research services. The workshop recommended combining central coordination with support adapted to local communities. Participants also highlighted the value of modular, FAIR and reusable training resources that can be adapted for different audiences and institutional settings. The discussions offer a practical perspective on a persistent challenge: making advanced infrastructure not only available, but genuinely usable over time. 

FAIR Brain Data Science Bootcamp brings international researchers together

In May 2026, INCF joined SeRC, the INCF Swedish Node, EBRAINS Sweden, EBRAINS Norway and MathWorks to deliver a three-day FAIR Brain Data Science Bootcamp in Stockholm. The programme brought together 75 participants from nine countries for hands-on training in brain atlasing, electrophysiology, data sharing, modelling, Python and MATLAB. Sessions connected the principles of Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR) data with tools and methods used in neuroscience research. The bootcamp combined conceptual learning with practical exercises, helping participants develop skills for working with research data and computational resources. The international format also offered opportunities to exchange experience across research groups and institutions. The event illustrates the value of collaborative training initiatives that turn open-science principles into usable research practices.

INCF coordinates its 16th Google Summer of Code programme

INCF continued its long-standing role as an umbrella organization for Google Summer of Code (GSoC) in 2026, bringing together developers and neuroscience research software communities. The 16th INCF programme included 23 contributors working on 23 projects across 21 collaborating organizations, supported by 75 mentors. Participating projects contribute to open-source tools and infrastructure used in neuroscience and related research fields. Through the umbrella model, participating communities gain a shared framework for mentorship and coordination while retaining ownership of their project goals. Contributors gain experience in collaborative software development, and mentors help connect technical work to the needs of research users. INCF’s continued involvement in GSoC reflects its investment in sustainable scientific software and the people and communities that maintain it.

Mapping the digital research infrastructure landscape

INCF and EBRAINS updated the INCF Infrastructure Portfolio and reviewed more than 60 digital research infrastructures during the first half of 2026. The analysis considers the services available across the research infrastructure landscape, areas of overlap and opportunities for coordination. Understanding how platforms and services relate to one another is important for researchers who need to find appropriate resources and for organizations planning collaborative development. The exercise also supports broader conversations about interoperability, discoverability and the efficient use of shared infrastructure. Rather than treating individual platforms in isolation, a landscape perspective can identify complementarities and gaps across the ecosystem. This work contributes to INCF’s mission of making neuroscience research resources easier to discover, evaluate and use.

International communities advance neuroscience data sharing

During the first half of 2026, INCF supported several international collaborations working to improve the responsible sharing and reuse of neuroscience data. The GA4GH–INCF–BRIDGE Neuroscience Community continued activities through theme teams addressing standards, governance, and scientific collaboration and education across neuroscience and genomics. Improving Neuroimaging Data for Sharing (INDoS) advanced work on quality, metadata, processing conventions and responsible sharing for MRI, MEG and EEG data, with INCF contributing communications, dissemination and Neurostars support. The International Initiative for Traumatic Brain Injury Research (InTBIR) also continued work on data harmonization and interoperability, supported by INCF web infrastructure and community coordination. Although the collaborations focus on different research communities, they share the challenge of making data easier to understand, exchange and reuse across organizational and national boundaries.

Developing Campus+ as a shared digital environment for NeurotechEU

During the first half of 2026, INCF continued work on Campus+, the virtual campus of NeurotechEU, the European University of Brain and Technology. Development activities supported FAIR educational resources, course discovery, integration with university systems and identity and access management. Together, these capabilities are intended to help students, educators and staff navigate educational opportunities across participating institutions. Building a shared campus requires more than bringing resources onto one website. Institutional systems, access arrangements and the way learning opportunities are described must also work together. Campus+ addresses these challenges as part of NeurotechEU’s broader efforts to support cross-institutional education. INCF’s contribution draws on its experience in research community platforms, educational infrastructure and resource discoverability.