In order to stimulate the process of sharing dataset-level metadata, the GBIF Secretariat is offering a limited number of small grants of up to € 5,000 to GBIF Participants to enable them to build and/or connect their existing metadata catalogues to the GBIF network.

GBIF is building a metadata portal to enable discovery of biodiversity resources on both the GBIF and other networks.  A metadata catalogue, based on Metacat, will constitute the main component of the GBIF portal backend and link to other metadata catalogues in the GBIF network with the ultimate goal of providing a virtual unified catalogue of all metadata from participating organisations.

In order to stimulate the process of sharing dataset-level metadata, the GBIF Secretariat is offering a limited number of small grants of up to € 5,000 to GBIF Participants to enable them to build and/or connect their existing metadata catalogues to the GBIF network. Please be aware that this is a once-off offer to kick-start the process of building the distributed GBIF metadata catalogue system: no repeat funds will be provided.

Connecting other Metacat catalogues to the Metacat installation in the GBIF portal is straightforward (the application supports this directly). Already deployed Metacat systems are thus not the focus of this call. Rather, this call is focused on those who have already deployed other catalogue systems or have not yet installed any metadata system. Those who already use other catalogue applications will need to implement the Open Archives Initiative – Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH – http://www.openarchives.org/) so that the contents of their catalogue can be shared on the network. For more information on the process, we refer you to the OAI-PMH FAQ statement:  http://www.openarchives.org/documents/FAQ.html#How long will it take me to implement the protocol

Grant Applications
Applications for grants are accepted from two categories of provider:

  1. those who already have a (non-Metacat) metadata catalogue system in operation and are willing to implement the OAI-PMH interface for harvesting of dataset metadata;
  2. those who do not yet have an online metadata catalogue system in place but are willing to deploy one (e.g., Cassia, GeoNetwork, Mercury, Metacat), implement the OAI-PMH (if the catalogue is not based on Metacat), and populate the catalogue with dataset metadata;

Submission Process
All GBIF Participants are eligible to apply for these grants. To apply,

  1. complete the form below by selecting one of the two categories as they apply to your organisation and providing a brief statement of how much funding you require and how you intend to use the funds;
  2. provide a letter of support from your host institution that the metadata system will be maintained after this catalytic investment.

Applications should be submitted by email to Éamonn Ó Tuama, Programme Officer for IDA (eotuama_@If you can read this, please upgrade to a modern browser.gbif.org) and will be accepted up to 30 November 2009. Successful applicants will be notified in December. Please note that no overhead can be charged and that a financial report will be required on conclusion of the work.

Click here to download application form.