The workbench functions as a research operating system, integrating AI agents with local and remote computing resources to eliminate the need for switching between disconnected tools. With 525 marketplace skills and support for four agent frameworks—including Claude Code and OpenCode—it addresses common industry pain points like vendor lock-in and opaque AI outputs. By utilizing standards such as RO-Crate, the system ensures that research context remains inspectable and shareable across different institutions.

Development of the platform involved a global coalition of 76 institutions, including Amsterdam UMC, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and various leading universities. The Apache 2.0-licensed software enables researchers to execute Python, R, and shell workflows directly, creating immutable, traceable artifacts. According to AIPOCH CEO Huimei Wang, the goal is to shift research toward an open ecosystem where scientific methods and AI capabilities are reused to accelerate discovery.