Quality policy

The Unit Resources Genomics-Info (URGI) of the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE) is a bioinformatics platform dedicated to plants ( https://doi.org/10.15454/1.5572414581735654E12 ).

URGI supports the genetics and genomics programs of the Plant Biology and Improvement (BAP) and the Ecology and Biodiversity (ECODIV) departments by (i) contributing to open-science-compatible management of the data produced in these two departments, and (ii) providing researchers with tools and an environment adapted to reproducible analyses for the annotation of transposable elements.

URGI is in line with objective OP 2.4 "Research infrastructures" of the INRAE 2030 strategic document, in partnership with other national, European and international infrastructure players.

URGI has been involved in an ISO 9001 certification process since 2012. We reviewed the scope of our Quality Management System in 2022, but it still focuses on continuous improvement, risks and opportunities, and stakeholder satisfaction. All our members are committed to this approach and contribute to it.

Our Quality Management System applies to services for (i) data integration and implementation of data federations, and (ii) genomes annotation of transposable elements via a virtual research environment. These services include the dissemination of bioinformatics know-how and support in the use of the tools. They are supported by a virtualized hardware and software infrastructure, user support and a communication plan.

Its structure is shown in our process map.

Our QMS helps us to achieve the following objectives:

O1 - Maintain, develop, evaluate and enhance our services and infrastructure to better meet the needs of our users

O2 - Promote our platform to the scientific community

O3 - Disseminate our bioinformatics expertise and support the use of our tools

O4 - Consolidate our strategic position in our partner ecosystem and develop new collaborations

O5 - Contribute to INRAE's open science policy

These general objectives have been broken down into more specific ones in our annual roadmap. They are reviewed during our process and management reviews.

Roadmap 2025 - 2026

O1 - Maintain, develop, evaluate and enhance our services and infrastructure

• Migration of Ephesis into FAIDARE to facilitate maintenance and offer users more extensive and efficient functionalities.
• Implementation of BrAPI v2 in FAIDARE to keep us up to date with the latest version of the standard, currently being implemented in GnpIS-related information systems (OLGA, Florilège).
• Improved ODS data handling times: target of 90% of arbitrated datasets handled by 2025.
• Improved portability of REPET by rewriting it in SnakeMake
• Upgrade of our infrastructure to the ProxMox virtualization solution with CEPH storage
• Implementation of a backup solution for CEPH storage
• Information System security: implement action plan

O2 - Promote our platform to the scientific community

• Draw up annual communication plan
• Redesign of the platform's website

O3 - Disseminate our bioinformatics know-how and support the use of our tools

• Distribute FAIR training material (FAIR Data Plant Phéno supports)
• Provide documentation on our FAIDARE, WheatIS and RARe tools (how-to, video and other self-training material).
• Include our training courses in the IFB national catalog

O4 Consolidate our strategic position and develop new collaborations

• CSR: implement the digital part of the BEGES action plan
• ISO 9001 version 2015 certification for the platform

O5 - Contribute to INRAE's open science policy

• Indexing of datasets published in the URGI de Recherche Data Gouv dataverse in FAIDARE (beyond data discovery)
• Production of V3 of the platform's PGD

Management commitment letter

As Director of URGI and coordinators of the plateform’s services, we are committed to :

• promote a culture of quality to better meet the needs of our stakeholders;
• appoint a quality manager to implement and monitor the platform's Quality Management System;
• provide human, material and financial resources in line with our objectives, and ensure that our skills are appropriate to our activities;
• ensure that there is adequate and regular consultation with platform members to ensure that the platform's missions are in line with user requirements.

Anne-Françoise Adam-Blondon, Director of URGI 

Michaël Alaux, Deputy Director of URGI and Scientific coordinator of the platform

Raphaël Flores, Operational coordinator of the platform