EOSC Node Coordinators Committee

A statement from the NCC concerning the architecture of the EOSC Federation and role of the EOSC EU Node has been released. It can be downloaded here.

The meeting brought together EOSC nodes and newly approved second-wave nodes to discuss governance developments, operational progress, and coordination across the EOSC Federation ecosystem. The session also provided an opportunity for participants to exchange updates and strengthen collaboration across the community.

Governance and Operational Updates

Participants reviewed recent developments from operational and governance working structures supporting the EOSC Federation. Progress was presented on several ongoing activities, including federated authentication and authorization, node onboarding, resource catalogue interoperability, policy alignment, monitoring services, and support mechanisms.

Work on onboarding additional nodes is progressing through phased implementation steps, while technical activities continue to focus on improving interoperability, harmonising vocabularies, and strengthening service classification across the Federation.

Discussions also highlighted the importance of coordinated governance procedures and improved interaction between operational and policy-related working groups to avoid fragmented development processes and ensure consistency across the Federation.

Legal and Governance Framework

An update was provided on the development of the EOSC Federation governance framework and related policy initiatives. Discussions focused on the evolution from the current Memorandum of Understanding toward a more structured framework capable of supporting operational activities in the production phase.

Participants emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced approach between governance requirements and operational flexibility, while also acknowledging the need for clear coordination mechanisms and realistic consultation timelines.

A recurring topic was the need to clarify governance processes, define roles and responsibilities more transparently, and improve visibility across the growing number of committees and working structures.

EOSC User Forum Development

An update was presented on the EOSC User Forum initiative, which aims to create an online community space for users and service providers to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and support one another. Initial work has established a platform structure with discussion areas covering training, node activities, and general Federation topics.

The community was encouraged to contribute actively and support the development of an engaged user network capable of fostering discussion and knowledge exchange.

The 23 April meeting of the EOSC Node Coordinators Committee (NCC) brought together members, invited experts, and observers to review operational progress, governance developments, and the next steps for expanding the EOSC Federation, including the onboarding of second wave nodes.

Progressing Toward an Operational Federation
A report from the Node Operations Committee (NOC), highlighted steady progress across technical working groups. Notable advances were reported in the Federated AAI and Federated Catalogue areas, while work on Architecture and Federated Policies is still being established and requires broader participation from nodes.

Efforts are also ongoing to formalise the NOC’s Rules of Procedure, expected to be finalised within the coming month and submitted to the NCC for endorsement. Updates on federating capabilities showed encouraging progress, with several nodes ready to integrate Help Desk services following a recent webinar and survey. A similar approach is being taken for Monitoring capabilities, with further discussions planned.

Training activities, including FitSM Foundation sessions delivered in April, received positive feedback and may be extended to additional participants, including second wave nodes.

A key discussion point focused on the definition of nodes being “in production,” underlining the need for clearer alignment between technical readiness, policy requirements, and governance frameworks.

Second Wave Nodes: Enrolment and Integration
Fourteen applications—covering national, thematic, and e-infrastructure nodes—were positively evaluated by the Tripartite and approved to begin the enrolment process.

Enrolment will start in May 2026 and the support for the new nodes will be implemented in three phases (batches) through April 2027, ensuring manageable technical support and coordination. The process aims to bring nodes to the point of signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), rather than full production readiness.

Key requirements for enrolment include participation in a testing environment, implementation of core federation capabilities such as AAI and the Federated Catalogue, a registered node identity, and at least one operational use case.

Second wave nodes will also be asked to update their project charters in line with their assigned enrollment support phase. An initial coordination meeting is scheduled for 5 May, and these nodes will begin participating as observers in NCC meetings from 21 May onwards.

Coordination with EOSC Projects and Sustainability Considerations
The meeting also addressed the evolving landscape of EU-funded EOSC projects, which are expected to support both first and second wave nodes. 

Looking Ahead
The Committee agreed on several next steps, including updates to first wave node project charters by mid-June and further planning for the upcoming face-to-face meeting. Given the increasing scope and complexity of activities, the possibility of more frequent meetings and extended discussion formats will also be considered.The next NCC meeting, scheduled for 21 May 2026, will mark the first participation of second wave nodes as observers and provide further updates on enrolment progress and coordination efforts.

The third meeting of the EOSC Node Coordinators Committee (NCC) brought together representatives of Nodes from across the EOSC Federation to review governance progress, operational developments, and upcoming initiatives supporting the evolution of the federation. 

Strengthening Governance and Coordination

The Committee adopted its updated Rules of Procedure, marking an important step toward a more structured and transparent governance framework. These rules clarify roles, decision-making processes, and how different actors collaborate within the federation.

As part of this process, Bob Jones was formally appointed as Chair, and Matteo Zanaroli as Co-Chair of the Node Coordinators Committee. Additional co-chairs were also confirmed for key Working Groups, reinforcing leadership across technical and operational areas.

Advancing Operational Readiness

The Node Operations Committee (NOC) reported progress in moving toward a more practical and results-oriented mode of work. Current efforts focus on:

• defining priorities and deliverables, 
• improving coordination between nodes, 
• analysing existing tools and services, 
• and supporting the gradual implementation of federation capabilities. 

A key message was the importance of prioritisation and phased development, ensuring that new functionalities are introduced in line with available resources and readiness across nodes.

Engaging the User Community

The Committee reviewed a proposal for a future EOSC User Forum, designed to give users a stronger voice in shaping federation services. The forum aims to:

• collect structured feedback from researchers and service users, 
• improve alignment of services across nodes, 
• and foster a growing user community. 

Work will continue on preparing the forum, with the goal of launching it alongside the broader rollout of federation services.

Supporting EOSC Projects and Growth

Updates were provided on Horizon Europe-funded projects, with several initiatives expected to start after summer 2026. Efforts are underway to ensure strong alignment between these projects and ongoing federation activities.

The Committee also reviewed progress on the second wave of node enrolment, with multiple applications under evaluation. Further updates are expected following upcoming governance discussions.

Looking Ahead

The meeting highlighted the continued transition of the EOSC toward a more mature and operational Federation. Key priorities for the coming months include:

• strengthening coordination between governance and technical bodies, 
• supporting onboarding of new nodes, 
• engaging users more effectively, 
• and ensuring sustainable, scalable development of services. 

The next NCC meeting is scheduled for 23 April 2026, where further updates on node enrolment and project alignment are expected.

The second meeting of the EOSC Node Coordinators Committee (NCC) focused on strengthening governance structures, advancing technical coordination across nodes, and launching new working groups to support the operational maturity of the EOSC Federation.

The Committee approved the agenda and formally adopted the summary of the previous meeting (Nice, January 2026). A key outcome was the revision of the draft NCC Rules of Procedure, clarifying participation and voting rights under the MoU framework, decision-making mechanisms, and the chairing model. The NCC confirmed that each MoU signatory has one vote, observers do not have voting rights, and decisions may translate into mandatory operational requirements for federation participation. A formal process was also launched for the election of NCC Co-Chairs.

The Node Operations Committee (NOC) reported on progress regarding FitSM adoption, governance alignment, and planning for 2026. The NOC confirmed three co-chairs and highlighted the need for FitSM training across nodes, structured input collection on service management priorities, and closer alignment with the federation’s transition to production.

The NCC endorsed two Working Groups. The Architecture & Federating Policies Working Group will review technical policies and federating architecture, ensuring interoperability while preserving node autonomy. Its outputs will feed into the EOSC Handbook and support a structured policy adoption pathway, coordinated with the NOC. Two co-chairs were confirmed, with one position remaining open.

The newly established Training & Competencies Working Group aims to strengthen operational capacity by improving discoverability, interoperability, and reuse of training resources across nodes. Initial work will focus on defining a minimal metadata profile for training materials and building a federated training ecosystem, with attention to sustainability and adoption planning.The Committee agreed to extend future meetings to two-hour slots to accommodate the growing agenda. The next meeting is scheduled for 26 March 2026.