ZIH-Info Nr. 193, November 2025
Table of contents
Editor: Jacqueline Papperitz
eduroam certificate change on December 3, 2025
Digital certificates have a limited validity period. The eduroam server certificate currently in use at TU Dresden will expire on December 3, 2025, and will therefore be replaced. This change is technically necessary to ensure the continued secure use of eduroam. Each time you log in to the “eduroam” Wi-Fi network, your device uses digital certificates to verify that your login credentials are being transmitted to a trusted server. Specifically, it checks whether the certificate provided by the Wi-Fi access point matches the certificate stored on your device. eduroam allows students and staff at participating universities worldwide to log in securely and conveniently using their home institution's credentials. Further details on the certificate update will be available on our website from November 10, 2025: https://tud.de/eduroamumstellung. (Contact: )
Electronic lab notebook for the TUD
The ZIH is currently running a pilot project to introduce a central electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) for TU Dresden. An ELN supports researchers in the digital documentation of their research processes and enables the structured recording of laboratory activities, equipment and workflows. The eLabFTW software is currently being tested and is already available as a demo and productive system via the Self Service Portal (https://selfservice.tu-dresden.de/services/9678/). While the demo system is used to try out the functions, the production system is already being used in research and teaching. If the evaluation is positive, eLabFTW will be permanently included in the ZIH's range of services in order to provide all TUD members with a secure and sustainable platform for research documentation. The Research Data Contact Point is also supporting the project with training, consulting and networking services and is already registering lively interest from the TUD research community. (Contact: , Matrix: #elabftw-user-network:tu-dresden.de)
vCard and online voting in the self-service portal
Employees can now create a personal digital business card (vCard) in TU Dresden's self-service portal. This allows professional contact details to be shared via a link or QR code and saved directly in Outlook or on mobile devices. The vCard replaces the classic paper version with a barrier-free, up-to-date and flexible solution that can also be used to integrate additional information such as a profile picture, project details or social media profiles. There is a choice between an online version that is automatically updated when changes are made and an offline version that works independently of the Internet. The new data entered for the business cards, such as the professional position, should also be integrated into existing systems such as the Outlook address book if possible. Further information: https://selfservice.tu-dresden.de/services/vcards/.
We would also like to point out that an application for online voting for the electronic university elections must be submitted via the self-service portal by December 2, 2025. Electronic voting will then be possible around the clock from December 9 to 11, 2025. Further information: https://selfservice.tu-dresden.de/services/postal-vote/. (Contact: )
Genome computing center Dresden starts operations
Modern genome sequencing makes it possible to analyze a person’s entire genetic material. This improves diagnostics and enables therapies to be tailored at the individual level – an important step on the path to personalized medicine. The “Genome Sequencing Model Project” is a central component of Germany’s National Strategy for Genomic Medicine, aiming to introduce genome sequencing into routine healthcare within five years. The project is funded with €700 million from statutory health insurance providers, with a focus on cancer and rare diseases. Its goal is to identify disease-causing genetic variations and thus enable earlier diagnoses and precision treatments. A nationwide platform is being set up in the pilot project, which is operated by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). Clinical data will be stored in so-called clinical data nodes and genomic data in so-called genome data centers. One of these centers is operated jointly by the ZIH and the University Hospital Dresden. ZIH will be responsible for the central storage, processing, and secure provision of genomic data. All 27 university hospitals in Germany are involved in the project and provide data that can also be used for research purposes. Metadata is published centrally and access to the full data sets will be managed via a regulated application process. Following an extensive setup and testing phase, the genome computing center in Dresden has now successfully commenced productive operation – the first genomes have been stored. This marks an important step in integrating genomic medicine into standard care and enabling data-driven research across Germany. (Contact: Dr. Ralph Müller-Pfefferkorn)
Opening hours of the Service Desk
As of October 20, 2025, the Service Desk has temporarily adjusted its opening hours. On-site and telephone availability have been reduced, and the Service Desk will now also be closed during lunchtime. Please be aware that further short-term changes may occur due to operational needs. Therefore, we recommend checking our website for the most up-to-date opening hours before your visit: https://tu-dresden.de/cids/scd/service-desk. (Contact: )
ZIH, ScaDS.AI and SpiNNcloud Systems @ SC'25
From November 16 to 21, 2025, leading experts in research, industry, and data center operations will gather in St. Louis, USA, for the Supercomputing Conference 2025 (SC’25). Held under the motto “HPC accelerates.”, SC’25 is the world’s premier event in high-performance computing (HPC), offering an extensive technical and scientific program. ZIH, ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig and SpiNNcloud Systems will jointly present their latest developments at booth #513. The focus will be on performance analysis and AI-driven computing tools and systems, including Vampir, PIKA, the ML training software asanAI, and JUmPER (Jupyter meets Performance). Also on display will be JumpLM, a Jupyter environment based on JUmPER and BALI (Benchmark for Accelerated Language Model Inference) a tool for benchmarking LLM inference with interactive visualizations. SpiNNcloud Systems will be exhibiting state-of-the-art hardware, including its SpiNNcloud Server Board equipped with 48 SpiNNaker2 chips. The booth will also highlight international collaborations, such as the partnership with Indiana University Bloomington.
In addition, ZIH and ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig will participate in the European Passport Stamp Rally, emphasizing the close connection among European research institutions at the conference. Visitors are also invited to join informal “sofa talks” on a range of topics at the shared booth (#513). (Contact: Frank Winkler)
Events
- 06.11.2025, 9:20–10:50 am: OPAL basic course (online)
- 10.11.2025, 15:00–16:30: Archiving and publishing research data following good scientific practice. Introductory lecture / English (online), Research Data Contact Point
- Open Q&A session for users of the NHR@TUD computing cluster: 10.11., 17.11., 24.11. and 1.12.2025 13:30–14:30 each (online)
- Softphone consultation hour: 10.11., 17.11., and 24.11. and 1.12.2025 110:00–11:00 each (online)
- 13.11.2025, 9:20–10:50 a.m.: ONYX basic course (online)
- 20.11.2025, 9:20–10:50 a.m.: OPAL advanced course (online)
- 20.11.2025: 6th SaxFDM conference: "Sharing data, gaining knowledge: Research data management between vision and reality", SLUB
- 27.11.2025, 9:20–10:50 am: ONYX advanced course (online)
- 27.11.2025, 14:00–15:30: FAIR research data publication with ZENODO (workshop, online)