WiLDSI

As the prevalence and volume of sequence data in the life sciences has grown exponentially, the question of how to address benefit-sharing from this so-called digital sequence information (DSI) has arisen. In a landmark agreement for conservation, the Global Biodiversity Framework, also put a process on the development of a new multilateral mechanism for benefit-sharing under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) into motion. Because the research community is the main provider and user of sequence data, it is crucial that their voices and hand-on experiences are heard as policy is developed. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has funded an interdisciplinary project called “Wissenschaftsbasierte Lösungsansätze für Digitale Sequenzinformation (DSI) (WiLDSI)” or, in English, “Science-based approaches for digital sequence information”.

• In the first project from 2019-2020 (WiLDSI), we identified policy approaches that preserve the sequencing community’s tradition of open sharing, support global research innovation, and ensure fair, sustainable benefit sharing for the countries of origin. The full report is available here.
• In a second project from 2021-2023 (WiLDSI-VorweRts), our work on DSI continues. In particular, the DSI Scientific Network continues to grow and bring an international perspective on DSI benefit-sharing issues.