Eastern Arc contributes to Jisc report on equipment-sharing

Over the last two years Eastern Arc has been developing an equipment-sharing framework between its members. This has resulted in the signing of a memorandum of understanding to establish an Imaging Platform Alliance, which will initially run on a pilot basis in 2023-24.

In addition, the Consortium has been working with other regional consortia to support Jisc to better understand the opportunities and the challenges around equipment-sharing on a regional and national level. Jisc has now summarised the findings of these discussions in a recently-published report. It recognises the potential benefits of such initiatives, including:

• Reducing bureaucracy
• Building regional capacity
• Aligning with larger, national facilities
• Sharing good practice
• Developing skills training

The report seeks ‘to build on the diversity of potential identified, highlighting the most useful, achievable and impactful routes to sector-wide optimisation.’

It will form the basis for further ‘substantive and inclusive conversations’ between stakeholders, and EARC will continue to engage with Jisc in these. If you want to find out more about this, the report can be read here.