INCF Town Hall Recap: Shaping the Future of Global Neuroscience Collaboration

Date: Wednesday, 22 October 2025 
Host: International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF)

In an era where neuroscience is evolving faster than ever, the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF) gathered its global community for an open Town Hall to discuss how we can best adapt — and lead — in this changing landscape.

The meeting, opened by Mathew Abrams, Director of Science and Training (INCF Secretariat) and Randy McIntosh, Chair (INCF Governing Board), marked a pivotal moment for INCF: a chance to redefine our mission, align our priorities, and strengthen collaboration across the global neuroscience ecosystem.

A Mission for Modern Science

At the heart of the discussion was INCF’s new mission statement:

“To transform neuroscience into an integrated, collaborative ecosystem by connecting and coordinating a global network of research institutions, industry, funders, policy makers, and publishers to drive science forward.”

This updated mission reflects a clear shift in focus — from principles to practice. As the cost and complexity of research continue to grow, and as AI and computational technologies reshape discovery, INCF aims to be a hub for practical coordination, shared infrastructure, and actionable support.

Our new mission builds on four key focus areas:

1. AI and Computational Integration: Helping researchers adopt new workflows, computational tools, and informatics methods
2. Professional and Career Development: Supporting researchers through training, mentoring, and entrepreneurship opportunities
3. Strategic Collaboration: Fostering partnerships across academia, industry, and funding bodies to accelerate innovation
4. Ethical and Legal Governance: Leading community discussions on the responsible use of neurotechnologies and data 
    

Building Value for Every Stakeholder

A major theme of the Town Hall was value: How INCF can deliver tangible benefits to researchers, institutions, and industry partners alike.

• For researchers, INCF will offer access to shared tools, workflows, and networks for career development
• For institutions, INCF will provide support in attracting and retaining talent while building strong collaborations with industry
• For industry, INCF will offer visibility, thought leadership, and direct access to the academic and policy communities driving innovation 
   

Listening to the Community

The open discussion was rich with ideas and feedback: from the need to clarify INCF’s role as a knowledge and coordination hub, to expanding engagement in undergraduate education and North American outreach.

Participants highlighted the importance of defining stakeholder groups more clearly, improving visibility, and hosting a dedicated stakeholder summit to strengthen relationships and gather coordinated input.

There was also strong consensus around the need for financial sustainability through a value-driven membership model, stronger industry engagement, and creative partnerships with sectors such as AI, pharma, and education.

As one participant noted, INCF could serve as a “trusted intermediary between technology providers, academia, and funders — much like Gartner does in the tech world.”

Looking Ahead

The meeting concluded with a clear call to action: collaboration must be both the goal and the method.

Next steps include:

• Engaging members to co-develop and prioritize new programs that enhance the value of membership 
• Expanding outreach through targeted communication and strategic partnerships 
• Collecting feedback via a simple, open survey asking members not only what they can contribute, but what they need from INCF.  Here is the feedback link.
   

A Community in Motion

As the meeting closed, Randy McIntosh and Dimitri thanked participants for their contributions and encouraged continued dialogue. Mathew Abrams reminded attendees that the recording, transcript, and slides will be shared with all participants — and that feedback will remain central to INCF’s next steps.

The energy of the session reflected a shared belief: that by connecting people, ideas, and institutions, INCF can help shape a more open, integrated, and innovative future for neuroscience.

The Secretariat is continuing to solicit feedback from the membership.