RIKI enters next phase in KI's research infrastructure work
Karolinska Institutet's organisation for research infrastructure, RIKI, is now approaching the end of Phase 1 and the beginning of Phase 2. Next in line for organisational transfer is KI Biobank which is proceeding according to plan.
The work to consolidate KI's research infrastructure under RIKI continues as planned. The restructuring is divided into five phases and runs through to June 2027. RIKI is currently in the transition between Phase 1 and Phase 2 – a period that involves both consolidating newly integrated units and initiating new ones.
Ahead of each transfer, RIKI's management and implementation team meets with the relevant units on a department by department basis. Heads of department, administrative managers, and core facility managers are invited to discuss expectations and plans, and all units will be visited in person. Union collaboration is a central part of the process.
"We want to work together with future colleagues in RIKI to create operational support that is specifically tailored to the needs of core facilities", says Karin Dahlman-Wright, Director of Research Infrastructure at RIKI.
For individual members of staff, an organisational transfer to RIKI means that their employment is moved to RIKI and formally re-registered in the HR system Primula. Financial projects are also transferred and assigned new project numbers. Upon transfer, a welcome letter is sent out with practical information for those concerned.
The technical environment, however, remains unchanged. Stefan Olson, Digitalisation Architect at ITA and adviser on IT structure in the implementation of RIKI, underlines that the organisational move will not affect day-to-day IT operations.
"The collaboration between ITA and MEB IT, which has had strong ties to KI Biobank, will continue after the organisational transfer to ensure secure and stable IT operations", says Stefan.
During the transfer period, the two IT units will bring in additional resources to ensure that operations proceed without disruption.
Aiming for a strengthened research infrastructure
The move to RIKI is not primarily about administration. The aim is to strengthen and broaden access to KI's research infrastructure – both internally and for external partners. KI has previously taken the initiative to establish a career structure within research infrastructure, something that is now to be developed further and extended in scope.
The ambition is for KI's research infrastructure to be evaluated by internationally composed panels and benchmarked against other leading universities. External engagement and environmental monitoring are highlighted as important elements of this continued work.