Welcome to the official outcomes and resources page for the EOSC Symposium 2024! Here you will find the key takeaways and materials from this pivotal event, where stakeholders from the EOSC community gathered in Berlin on 21-23 October 2024 to discuss and shape the build-up phase of the EOSC Federation.
Download links for presentation slides and questions asked by participants can be found in the resources column. We also encourage you to check the outcomes and key takeways, posters, and photos from the event.
Recordings will be added to each session as they become available. Check back regularly for updates.
Plenary
13:00-15:00 Opening session
About this session
The main objective of the EOSC Symposium opening session is to set the scene for the entire EOSC Symposium event. High-level invited speakers will be featured in the opening session to provide the participants with an overview of the landscape in which EOSC operates and highlight the strategic importance of the EOSC initiative in the EU Data Strategy. The opening session will also be the venue to update the entire EOSC community on the latest EOSC developments and discuss the progress and next steps to build-up the EOSC Federation.
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Sara Garavelli, EOSC Symposium Programme Committee Chair, CSC – IT Center for Science and EOSC Association Board of Directors | Welcome from the chair |
| Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Federal Minister of Education and Research, Germany | Video message from the Federal Minister of Education and Research, Germany |
| Iliana Ivanova, Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, European Commission | Video message by the European Commissioner |
| Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission | Opening speech by the Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General “Research and Innovation”, European Commission |
| Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy and author of the recent “Much more than a market” report | Video contribution from the former Prime Minister of Italy |
| Michael Arentoft, Head of Open Science and Research Infrastructures Unit, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission | Changing gears to accelerate EOSC: Update from the European Commission |
| Volker Beckmann, Coordinator for the implementation of EOSC in France at the Ministry for Higher Education and Research (MESR) & EOSC Steering Board co-chair | Changing gears to accelerate EOSC: Update from the EOSC Steering Board |
| Karel Luyben, President of the EOSC Association | Changing gears to accelerate EOSC: Update from the EOSC Steering Board |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
Breakout sessions
15:30-16:30 Examples of EOSC scientific, societal and economic impact (Part 1)
Outcomes and key takeaways
The session emphasised the integral relationship between FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), highlighting that many datasets still do not meet FAIR standards. It was noted that achieving AI-readiness for data could enhance adherence to these principles. A key outcome of the ESCAPE project was discussed, showcasing how it enables physicists to focus on their research without the burden of computational complexities, thereby fostering community collaboration within the European framework. Additionally, WorldFAIR activities were mentioned, with five cross-domain projects working on implementing the interoperability framework to support these initiatives.
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Karel Luyben, President of the EOSC Association | Opening by the chair |
| Simon Hodson, CODATA | Examples of EOSC scientific and societal impact from WorldFAIR |
| Erik Schultes, GO FAIR Foundation | Examples of EOSC scientific and societal impact from GO FAIR |
| Giovanni Guerrieri, CERN | Examples of EOSC societal and economic impact from CERN/ESCAPE |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
15:30-16:30 EOSC and the European Health Data Space
About this session
The European Health Data Space is a an ecosystem that define rules, standards, infrastructures and a governance framework for the management of health data to: 1) Empower the citizen in the control and access of health data; 2) Setting up a trustworthy environment for the secondary use of health data in research, innovation and policy-making. The EHDS and EOSC share goals on the secondary use of data for research and complementarities
In this regard, the EOSC-A has created a Task Force on Health Data to work on the identification of special requirements, regulations and the ethical and legal grounds to make the access and processing of health data in the context of EOSC fair and safe, and to explore the activities in the context of the EHDS to search for gaps and avoid the replication of efforts.
Outcomes and key takeaways
The session explored the current roadmap toward establishing the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and related activities within the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). An overview was provided on the current status of EOSC members and observers working in the health domain, along with EOSC-related projects supporting the EHDS. The initial steps of the EOSC Health Task Force were discussed, emphasising stakeholder mapping as a necessary action to identify gaps, redundancies, and potential synergies. The status of the EHDS was presented, focusing on its technical structure and related data user journeys. The goals of the EOSC4CANCER and TITAN projects were also briefly explained. The session concluded with an engaging discussion with the audience, addressing questions on topics such as realistic timelines for implementing these actions, technical challenges in establishing a secure privacy environment, and strategies for involving citizens and patients as fundamental participants in these processes
Organisers
Ignacio Blanquer (UPV), and Sara Garavelli (EOSC Symposium Programme Committee Chair, CSC – IT Center for Science and EOSC Association Board of Directors)
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Ignacio Blanquer, Universitat Politècnica de València | EOSC-A activities on health data |
| Petr Holub, BBMRI-ERIC – AT, EOSC-A Health Data Task Force | The new Health Data Task Force: objectives and workplan |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Jerome de Barros, DG-SANTE | The European Health Data Space |
| Salvador Capella Gutierrez, BSC and EOSC4CANCER | EOSC4Cancer: A European-wide foundation to accelerate data-driven cancer research |
| Antonio Skarmeta, UM and EOSC-TITAN | TITAN: Trusted envIronments for confidenTiAl computiNg and secure data sharing |
| Ignacio Blanquer, Universitat Politècnica de València (Chair) Petr Holub, BBMRI-ERIC – AT and EOSC-A Health Data Task Force Salvador Capella Gutierrez, BSC and EOSC4CANCER Antonio Skarmeta, UM and EOSC-TITAN Jerome de Barros, DG-SANTE | Roundtable on the alignment of the EHDS and EOSC |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
15:30-16:30 INFRAEOSC projects: Early results and future plans for the common collaboration areas
About this session
The session introduces the work of the Opportunity Area (OA) Expert Groups, a mechanism for voluntary collaboration on technical and related matters within the Horizon Europe (HE) Co-programmed Partnership for EOSC. It convenes representatives of Opportunity Area Expert Groups from current HE EOSC-related projects and EOSC Association Task Forces to i) briefly present current developments within the OA Expert Groups, including pertinent outcomes and future plans, and ii) jointly discuss a way forward to maximize the impact of the HE EOSC-related projects. The session is designed to give the audience a flavor of the groups‘ fundamental role in facilitating strategic collaboration, and in increasing the visibility and effectiveness of EOSC-related activities and joint efforts.
Outcomes and key takeaways
The session on INFRAEOSC projects introduced the Opportunity Area Expert Groups, a mechanism designed to facilitate collaboration on technical and related issues across various EOSC-related initiatives. The session chair provided an overview of the groups’ development since the first EOSC Winter School in 2024. Before moving into a lively panel discussion, representatives from the six Opportunity Area Expert Groups talked about the groups’ achievements. The panel provided examples of how to strike a balance between tangible outcomes delivered by the OA Expert Groups (and respective EOSC-related projects) and the broader question of whether EOSC should be primarily community-driven or structured around common standards and entities authorised to push these standards.
Session organisers
Ilire Hasani-Mavriqi (TU Graz), and Stefan Reichmann (TU Graz)
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Javier López Albacete, European Commission, DG RTD | Opening statement |
| Ilire Hasani-Mavriq, Graz University of Technology | Introduction to Opportunity Area collaboration framework |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Ilire Hasani-Mavriqi, Graz University of Technology (Chair) Tibor Kálmán, Gesellschaft für wissenschaftliche Datenverarbeitung Wolmar Nyberg Åkerström, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden, SciLifeLab, ELIXIR Sweden Chris Schubert, Vienna University of Technology Björn Grüning, University of Freiburg Celia van Gelder, Health-RI Suzanne Dumouchel, EOSC Association | Opportunity Area Expert Groups – Early results and future plans for the common collaboration areas |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
17:00-18:00 Examples of EOSC scientific, societal and economic impact (Part 2)
About this session
The purpose of the session is to explore instruments and best practices to generate and document impact in relation to EOSC, FAIR principles and Open Science. The first presentation will describe the the early findings of the PATHOS project that is exploring how to better understand and measure Open Science impacts. The first presentation will be followed by a second presentation by ELIXIR providing a concrete example of socio-economic impact. The session is closed with a panel discussing the lessons learnt and challenges in showcasing and documenting impact for EOSC, FAIR and Open Science.
Outcomes and key takeaways
The session explored the monitoring of investments to determine the impact of Open Science, particularly in relation to data usage by industry and SMEs. The presentation on the PathOS project clarified its methodology, which focuses on identifying the appropriate instruments to attribute the impact of investments to Open Science. Another project discussed was BY-COVID, which analysed how industry utilises data from open repositories. The session concluded with a panel discussion that included insights on monitoring practices.
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Javier López Albacete, European Commission, DG RTD | Opening by the chair |
| Natalia Manola, CEO of OpenAIRE | PathOS: Attributing academic, societal and economic impact to Open Science |
| Despoina Sousoni, ELIXIR Hub | Industry value from infectious disease data |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Javier López Albacete, European Commission, DG RTD (Chair) Natalia Manola, OpenAIRE & PATHOS project Despoina Sousoni, ELIXIR Hub Ilaria Nardello, EOSC-A | Panel discussion on lessons learnt and challenges to showcase and document impact |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
Unconference sessions
17:00-18:00 As open as possible, as restricted as necessary: EOSC sensitive data exchange
About this session
First we will introduce the drivers from biomedical research and the social sciences – the challenges in finding, sharing and analysing data sets while respecting the rights and ethical principles which apply; then, future EOSC solutions for FAIR sensitive data – technologies for the deployment of secure Cloud or physical technologies, tools to assist data rights holders to anonymize and share data, and the development of operational, policy and legal frameworks.
Participants will connect to the requirements gathering and solution design teams for sensitive data in EOSC.
Session organisers
ELIXIR, EUDAT, EOSC-ENTRUST, UNIVERSIDAD DE MURCIA, TITAN, EOSC-SIESTA, CSIC
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Heidi Laine, CSC – IT Center for Science | Sensitive data re-use in European Research: Presentation by EOSC ENTRUST |
| Antonio Skarmeta, University of Murcia | Sensitive data re-use in European Research: Presentation by TITAN |
| Álvaro López García, Spanish National Research Council | Sensitive data re-use in European Research: Presentation by SIESTA |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Jonathan Tedds, ELIXIR (Chair) Heidi Laine, CSC – IT Center for Science Antonio Skarmeta, University of Murcia Álvaro López García, Spanish National Research Council Peter Maccallum, ELIXIR Mark Dietrich, EGI Foundation | Panel discussion and audience Q&A |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
17:00-18:00 No data without software!
About this session
The goal of this session is discussing the needs for sustainable research software development within/across disciplines, and elaborating on infrastructure and methodological developments.
This session deals with the role of software in scientific processes, and the way to develop such software to achieve reproducibility and reuse of research data. This includes categorizing and archiving software in a time-capsule allowing it to reopen/reuse it after a while.
With an interactive format, the audience will share experiences and pain points from (not) using long-archiving infrastructure. Involving multiple perspectives from various fields, will help to gather requirements and sharpen the idea of a supportive research environment.
Outcomes and key takeaways
The session welcomed 68 participants from a wide range of research domains who engage with software as users, creators, maintainers, and more. The following challenges were discussed:
- Software preservation can be achieved using time capsules, as developed in NFDIxCS.
- The sustainability of software requires a stable software environment, which is often overlooked in project models.
- Following best practices is essential to ensure minimal software quality.
- Software quality is a prerequisite for developing long-lasting software.
The key takeaways included:
- Software is increasingly integral to processes in science and research.
- Research and data rely on software, while research software depends on a complex software stack.
- Software roles necessitate specific competencies that should be tailored to individual domains. For example:
- Using software requires the ability to run it.
- Software maintenance involves reading and assessing the software.
- Software preservation demands a coordinated effort from policymakers, funders, scholarly infrastructure, and the broader research community to promote software recognition and metadata curation. There should also be a focus on mutualization, interoperability, and the sustainability of scholarly infrastructures for research software.
During the session, it was announced that the Zenodo-SWH connector has been deployed in production through the EU-funded FAIRCORE4EOSC project.
Session organisers
NFDIxCS, NFDI4DataScience, Software Heritage Foundation, FAIRCORE4EOSC
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Jan Bernoth, University of Potsdam | Welcome |
| Michael Goedicke, University of Duisburg-Essen, NFDIxCS | Role of software in data-driven scientific processes |
| Gabriele Taentzer, University of Marburg | Developing software for the long-term |
| Morane Gruenpeter, National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology | Long-term archival of software |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
| Participants | Poll results |
Plenary
09:00-09:30 Scientific keynote: FAIR, what else?
Outcomes and key takeaways
The scientific keynote focused on assessing the ecological and sustainable practices in research, emphasising the importance of responsible data management. It highlighted the need to consider recycling not only of materials, but also of data and knowledge generated in research processes.
Key points:
- Learning from failures: Emphasising the importance of documenting failures alongside successes can provide essential lessons that contribute to more robust research outcomes.
- Value of residual knowledge: Unpublished or unreported data, referred to as “residual waste,” contains valuable insights that can enhance future research.
- Proper data description: Clear and comprehensive metadata is crucial for making data useful and accessible, as poorly described data limits its applicability.
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Sara Garavelli, EOSC Symposium Programme Committee Chair, CSC – IT Center for Science and EOSC Association Board of Directors | Welcome from the chair |
| Claudia Draxl, Professor for solid-state theory at the Physics Department of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Director of FAIRMAT | Scientific keynote: FAIR, what else? |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
09:30-11:00 EOSC Federation
About this session
The EOSC Federation will consist of multiple “EOSC Nodes” that are interconnected and can collaborate to share and manage scientific data, knowledge, and resources within and across thematic and geographical research communities. This session will mark the official launch of the first node of the EOSC Federation, the EOSC EU Node, and will provide the EOSC Symposium participants with an overview of the status of implementation of the rest of the EOSC Federation and the related next steps.
More about the EOSC EU Node: Owned by DG CONNECT, the EOSC EU Node is a platform that primarily supports multi-disciplinary and multi-national research promoting the use of FAIR data and supplementary services in Europe and beyond. In addition, the EOSC EU Node is a platform that facilitates the creation of the EOSC Federation, following the system of systems architectural principle of federated research infrastructures. The oversight of the EOSC EU Node platform services is provided by the EOSC Tripartite Governance.
More about the EOSC Federation: To fully unlock the benefits of EOSC, one single node is not enough: additional “EOSC Nodes” need to be established and enrolled into the EOSC Federation.
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Ingrid Dillo, Senior advisor at Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) | Opening by the chair |
| Michael Arentoft, Head of Open Science and Research Infrastructures Unit, Directorate for Research and Innovation, European Commission | EOSC Federation and the EOSC EU Node |
| Gustav Kalbe, Acting Director of the Directorate‑General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT C) “Digital Excellence and Science Infrastructure” | Launch of the EOSC EU Node |
| Peter Szegedi, Policy Officer in the High Performance Computing and Applications Unit, Directorate‑General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT C), European Commission | The EOSC EU Node |
| Norbert Meyer, PSNC Spiros Athanasiou, ATHENA RC Peter Szegedi, DG CNECT C | Q&As with EOSC EU Node contractors |
| Bob Jones, CERN and EOSC Association Board of Directors | Status of the EOSC Federation |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Ingrid Dillo, DANS (Chair) Dejan Dvorsek, DG RTD, European Commission Inmaculada Figueroa, Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities & EOSC Steering Board Bob Jones, CERN and EOSC Association Board of Directors Peter Szegedi, DG CNECT, European Commission | Panel discussion with perspectives on the EOSC Federation by the EOSC Tripartite representatives |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
Breakout sessions
11:30-12:30 Getting ready for the EOSC Federation: Perspectives of different stakeholders (Part 1)
About this session
The EOSC Federation is going to bring together providers of data, services and e-infrastructures as a system of systems, to deliver to researchers seamless access under a common umbrella. This session is going to provide the stakeholders’ perspective, by highlighting different ways forward for resource providers, funders and policy makers. This should be seen as a learning exercise: we will discuss approaches that lead towards a federated system, examples on how support can be achieved at national level, and how the challenges and opportunities can be tackled by those who want to engage as EOSC nodes.
In this first of two sessions, we focus on the point of view of countries and actors at the national level.
Outcomes and key takeaways
The session addressed the viewpoints of various countries through their representatives. It began with an introduction of the panellists, followed by a panel discussion. A key theme that emerged was the current uncertainty surrounding the definition of a national node. There was a consensus on the importance of involving the community in discussions about priorities and a recognition that there is no need to reinvent the wheel; instead, existing systems should be effectively utilised. Additionally, the necessity of clear commitments by ministries regarding the normative goals for Open Science was highlighted as essential for its development.
Session organisers
Isabel Caetano (EOSC-A), Yann Libaers (EOSC-A)
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Sumithra Velupillai, Swedish Research Council | Opening of the session |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Sumithra Velupillai, Swedish Research Council (Chair) Ludek Matyska, Masaryk University and CESNET York Sure-Vetter, German National Research Data Infrastructure Ron Augustus, SURF Annika Glauner, ETH Zurich / Swiss National Supercomputing Centre | Panel discussion |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
14:00-15:00 Getting ready for the EOSC Federation: Perspectives of different stakeholders (Part 2)
About this session
The EOSC Federation is going to bring together providers of data, services and e-infrastructures as a system of systems, to deliver to researchers seamless access under a common umbrella. This session is going to provide the stakeholders’ perspective, by highlighting different ways forward for resource providers, funders and policy makers. This should be seen as a learning exercise: we will discuss approaches that lead towards a federated system, examples on how support can be achieved at national level, and how the challenges and opportunities can be tackled by those who want to engage as EOSC nodes.
In this second session, European federations from different backgrounds relevant for EOSC will discuss their experience and expectations to help building the EOSC Federation.
Outcomes and key takeaways
The session focused on the different perspectives of stakeholders. Emphasis was placed on the importance of competition throughout Europe, echoing the Draghi report. There was a call to gain support from the community, along with the recognition that many local institutions are older than for example ERICs, highlighting the importance of reusing existing systems rather than creating new ones. Additionally, the necessity of ensuring that no parts of the community are left behind as EOSC progresses was underscored.
Organisers
Isabel Caetano (EOSC-A), Yann Libaers (EOSC-A)
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Bonnie Wolff-Boenisch, CESSDA ERIC | Opening of the session & setting the scene |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Bonnie Wolff-Boenisch, CESSDA ERIC (Chair) Jan Korbel, European Molecular Biology Laboratory Natalie Haley, Instruct-ERIC Cathrin Stöver, GÉANT Martine Pronk, LIBER Europe Martino Romaniello, European Southern Observatory | Panel discussion with representatives of European federations |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
14:00-15:00 Legal issues along the research data cycle
About this session
Data access and re-use has become increasingly important for research activities. As an example, developments in artificial intelligence rely on the use of large, high-quality datasets. However, researchers face hurdles. Various data and digital legislations have been recently adopted, creating a complex landscape not always easy for them to navigate. Additionally, there is the need to support capacity building on appropriate IP and research data management, to help researchers with issues such as data ownership, cross-border sharing of data and research security. The roundtable will involve legal experts, representatives from infrastructures and research organisations, to discuss challenges and possible ways forward.
Outcomes and key takeaways
- Data Ownership vs. Responsibility: A major point of discussion was the misconception around “data ownership.” Rather than focusing on data as a property, the conversation emphasised the importance of access and control. Taking responsibility for data use should be the priority, as data itself cannot be copyrighted (but databases can!). The question remains how best to provide a robust knowledge framework for research services to better understand and handle the sharing of knowledge, and all sorts of protection, including GDPR and IP.
- Challenges of Legal Exceptions: Current regulations often rely on exceptions, particularly for research purposes, which do not provide legal certainty. These exceptions are meant to facilitate research but remain insufficient as a long-term solution. Rather than making these exceptions mandatory, there is a need for more robust, clear regulations to support researchers.
- New Data Spaces and Obligations: With the emergence of initiatives like the Health Data Space, there is now an obligation to share data, especially data collected through public funding. However, institutions still face significant challenges, particularly with handling sensitive data while complying with GDPR requirements. The current question is how best to reconcile the obligation to share with privacy and data protection laws.
The session concluded with a recognition of the need for ongoing observation of regulatory impacts on research, particularly regarding AI, and continued support for research services to provide clear legal guidance for data sharing.
Session organisers
Katja Mayer, University of Vienna; Stefan Skupien, Berlin University Alliance; Silvia Bottaro, European Commission DG RTD, Open Science Unit
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Stefan Skupien, Berlin University Alliance | Opening of the session |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Katja Mayer, University of Vienna (Chair) Stefan Skupien, Berlin University Alliance (Chair) Kasper Drazewski, Centre for IT & IP Law, KU Leuwen Irene Schlünder, BBMRI-ERIC Michael Arentoft, Head of Unit for Open Science and Research Infrastructures | Panel discussion |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
15:30-16:30 EOSC Federation Handbook
About this session
The EOSC Federation Handbook will comprehensively address the purpose, structure, governance, architecture and operations of the EOSC Federation.
This session will focus on the ongoing developments and status of preparation of the EOSC Federation Handbook.
Outcomes and key takeaways
The session on the EOSC Federation Handbook began with a presentation on its current development, followed by a panel discussion. There was a shared view that the Handbook should be a living document, although the timing of updates needs to be defined. It was emphasised that a “moving target” should be avoided, ensuring that recently established nodes are not required to suddenly adhere to new rules.
Organisers
Isabel Caetano (EOSC-A), Yann Libaers (EOSC-A)
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Bob Jones, CERN, EOSC Association Board of Directors | Opening by the chair |
| Andy Götz, EOSC Association | Introductory presentation |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Bob Jones, CERN, EOSC Association Board of Directors (Chair) Andy Götz, EOSC Association Nanette Rißler-Pipka, Max Weber Foundation Sally Chambers, Digital Research Infrastructure for the Arts and Humanities Giorgio Rossi, EOSC Steering Board Pantelis Tziveloglou, European Commission, DG RTD | Panel discussion with representatives of the EOSC Handbook Writers’ Group and e-Infrastructures |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
15:30-16:30 Data retention
About this session
The research data management activities that deliver initial curation and active preservation (identified as priority concepts by the Long-Term Data Preservation Task Force) are in turn dependent on clear appraisal and reappraisal over time to guide transparent information about retention periods and terms (including storage and preservation).
The Retention Task Force will deliver a landscape review of community needs around retention and appraisal, and engage with forthcoming projects on preservation frameworks and networks of trustworthy repositories. By reaching a broad understanding by the EOSC community around the activities, functions and concepts the TF will identify needs and make strategic recommendations on continued actions, including via the Multi-Annual Roadmap and Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.
This session will set the stage for this topic, process and engagement, including seeking panel and audience feedback on key issues, connection points and approaches.
Outcomes and key takeaways
Defining long-term data retention: One well-discussed item throughout the session was the meaning of “long-term data retention.” A prominent definition stated that data can be considered secured for the long term if actions must be taken by data controllers to mitigate risks of obsolescence or corruption. However, this raises questions about who assesses these risks at the time of data creation and who is considered the controller of the data at any given moment. Moreover, the risks of obsolescence and corruption vary based on the duration for which data is foreseeably retained, as well as the type of data being retained. Providing guidance and examples related to these questions would be quite helpful.
Revisiting the CoreTrustSeal: What does it mean for a repository to be trusted? The panellists and the audience also raised questions regarding the meaning of trust as it applies to a repository. The current CoreTrustSeal needs to be reviewed and should incorporate practical criteria that more clearly define appraisal, re-appraisal, and responsibilities.
Policies, strategies, and/or recommendations are necessary to adequately sustain long-term data retention: There is a need for clear guidelines, if not policies, on “how” we wish to retain data to ensure alignment and coordination among stakeholders. This includes defining the technical and semantic requisites that must be met prior to submission. The panellists and the audience agreed that EOSC could help achieve this. Determining “which” data should be retained would likely initially fall to the data producers or collectors but might defer to the repositories at later stages, particularly when data has reached its expiry date. This raised further questions regarding cultural heritage data and the responsibilities associated with it.
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Jenny O’Neill, HEAnet | Opening and introduction to the session by the chair |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Jenny O’Neill, HEAnet (Chair) | Discussion seeking panel and audience feedback on key issues, connection points and approaches |
| Olivier Rouchon, Centre national de la recherche scientifique | (Long-Term) Data Retention |
| Micky Lindlar, TIB Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology | (Long-Term) Data Retention |
| Mari Kleemola, Tampere University, Finnish Social Science Data Archive and Consortium of European Social Science Data Archives | (Long-Term) Data Retention |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
15:30-16:30 FAIR metrics & data quality
About this session
The productivity of research data within a trustworthy and reliable process chain requires a precise statement on FAIRness and data quality management for the targeted support of digital research objects, infrastructures, tools and services.
Both fundamentals, FAIR and data quality in research data management, face specifics, e.g., for data lifecycle, provenance, and the re-use of data across thematic domains. Do we have any mechanisms to provide low-barrier opportunities for implementing indicators from a funding perspective? What are the incentives and benefits as the value in governance, community development of standards, and metrics?
In this participative discussion, we would like to provide insights into the potential benefits and individual incentives that infrastructures like the NFDI consortia, policymakers, and funding agencies or publishers can offer to individual research activities in promoting the development of FAIR Metrics and data quality considering rapid technological developments and advanced requirements.
Outcomes and key takeaways
The session organisers successfully facilitated a panel discussion with the audience to foster a better understanding of a trustworthy and reliable process chain for research data productivity that recognises the importance of reproducibility.
In three short presentations, participants were given insights into various possibilities and support mechanisms for adopting FAIR data. The panel brought together perspectives from a generic research infrastructure, a research funder actively involved in the German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI), and a commercial provider, offering a unique blend of viewpoints.
The session provided up-to-date information on the barriers to implementing FAIR principles and data quality standards in research data management, as well as the role of educational institutions in embedding FAIR principles and data quality management into academic training, particularly for early career researchers. Examples of low-barrier tools and services currently available were shared, including developments from INFRAEOSC projects and the commercial sector. The discussion also touched on how funding agencies can incentivize researchers to prioritise good data management and FAIRness in their projects.
Key takeaways:
- FAIR and Quality vary on task, domain and lifecycle. One universal measure is not possible or desirable so a set of measures are needed that are contextual. This means communities of practice support
- FAIR takes time and effort, and expecting researchers alone to shoulder the burden and responsibility is wrong. FAIR takes a village. All stakeholders must contribute and take responsibility. Including RPOs to funders.
- Change the habits of publication citation index to research output for code, methods, data
- Establish a more vital link/requirement of FAIR and Data Quality arguments to funding agencies
- FAIR and quality needs to be embedded in the tools and processes of a researcher so it becomes a “free” side effect. This needs action on our tools and infrastructure
- Data Quality used by FAIR should be ready and quoted for AI training data
- FAIR is not the goal – analysis, collaboration, insights is the goal. FAIR is the means
Organisers
Chris Schubert (TU Wien), Kathrin Winkler (EC)
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Chris Schubert, TU Wien | Opening |
| Kathrin Winkler, European Commission, DG Research and Innovation | Introduction |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Jan Rohden, National Research Data Infrastructure, German Research Foundation | Data quality and FAIRness as an ongoing and collaborative endeavour: a funder’s perspective |
| Carole Goble, University of Manchester, ELIXIR-UK | Insights from a UK Bioscience Infrastructure and beyond |
| Paul Butler, Springer Nature (Protocols.io) | Uniformed method development and its contribution to reproducibility and research integrity |
| Kathrin Winkler, European Commission, DG Research and Innovation (Chair) Paul Butler, Springer Nature (Protocols.io) Carole Goble, University of Manchester, ELIXIR-UK Jan Rohden, National Research Data Infrastructure, German Research Foundation Chris Schubert, TU Wien | Interactive panel discussion |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
17:00-18:00 EOSC Federation – Interoperability
About this session
Unlocking the full potential of the EOSC Federation hinges on seamless access to and linkage of high-quality research data and services and streamlined connections. Technical interoperability enables services to communicate and efficiently exchange data. Semantic interoperability builds on standardised metadata reusing concepts from semantic artefacts to facilitate discovery, aggregation, integration and reuse across diverse thematic and regional nodes.
Thematic EOSC nodes will have different approaches and capabilities to operate services for their own community and beyond. The needs of different scientific domains necessitate actions for smooth integration and onboarding of their services into the EOSC Federation using the EOSC Interoperability Framework (IF).
Outcomes and key takeaways
Three talks covered three different areas: Thematic communities have uneven maturity in the adoption of “semantic artefacts” and the crosswalks and mappings between them necessary for semantic interoperability. Domain experts in emerging and mature communities need the support of customizable services that translate descriptions into machine-interpretable metadata; e.g. the FAIR2Adapt semi-automated annotation service based on the RDA I-ADOPT framework.
The EOSC IF is the high-level framework EOSC Federation Nodes need but requires enrichment for operation. WorldFAIR’s Cross-Domain Interoperability Framework offers additional detail and recommendations using a modular approach, standards-based recommendations from good practice in research areas internationally, and a practical implementation guide.
The FAIR Digital Object Framework uses simple concepts and protocols for data interoperability to get ubiquitous adoption by all platforms, enabling seamless data exchange among disparate repositories. Configurations of the protocols and specifications exist, such as Digital Twins and RO-Crates, the latter using conventional web technologies.
- Greater maturity is needed in the capability, availability and usability of semantic technologies and specifications, without reinventing the wheel. Use Web technology and new Generative AI at service for researchers.
- Interoperability must be based on use cases derived from close engagement with research disciplines and cross-domain research areas. To bring the abstract concept closer to everyday science, interoperability should be visible for researchers and the projects/initiatives building EOSC.
- EOSC Federation Nodes are the playground for the IF, but to be adoptable and adaptable it must be modular (layered) and kept simple. Interoperability among services with service descriptions and connectivity is essential. Engagement with the International Data Spaces needed.
Organisers
Carole Goble (University of Manchester), Karel Luyben (EOSC-A)
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Carole Goble, University of Manchester | Opening of the session |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Simon Hodson, CODATA | How should the EOSC Interoperability Framework evolve, what is missing? |
| Dimitris Koureas, Naturalis Biodiversity Center | FAIR digital objects: How they contribute to meaningfully interconnected knowledge? |
| Barbara Magagna, GO Fair Foundation | Technical & Semantic Interoperability aspects across EOSC |
| Carole Goble, University of Manchester (Chair) Barbara Magagna, GO Fair Foundation Simon Hodson, CODATA Dimitris Koureas, Naturalis Biodiversity Center Jiří Marek, Masaryk University Diego Scardaci, EGI Foundation | Panel discussion |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
17:00-18:00 EOSC and the Digital Twins
About this session
Digital Twins have proven their potential in revolutionising approaches to challenging tasks in the industrial sector, and are increasingly being leveraged as a research method bringing similar innovative approaches to the way science is performed.
This session aims to bring relevant Digital Twins initiatives in Europe (DestinE, BioDT, DT-GEO, interTwin and ILIAD/aquaInfra) highlighting new dimensions of interoperability at data and service levels. Thanks to the focus on interoperability, as well as on challenges and transferrable approaches and tools, the session will be a unique opportunity for the EOSC Community to discover the wide range of possibilities that Digital Twins can offer, in all research domains, and the role Digital Twin Platforms can play in future EOSC Nodes.
Session organisers
Gwen Franck, EGI; Xavier Salazar Forn, EGI; Varvara Vedia, CSIC; and Timea Biro, CSC
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Xavier Salazar, EGI Foundation, interTwin | Opening of the session |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Xavier Salazar, EGI Foundation (Chair) | The interTwin Digital Twin engine: A platform for building and managing scientific digital twins |
| Thomas Geenen, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts | Destination Earth: A novel information system for a resilient society |
| Arne Berre, SINTEF Digital | EPSC and Digital Twins, DestinE+DTO: Iliad, AquaINFRA, DTO-BioFlow, EDITO |
| Ignacio Blanquer, Universitat Politècnica de València | DT-GEO: A digital twin for GEOphysical extremes |
| Gabriela Zuquim, CSC – IT Center for Science | Biodiversity Digital Twin for advanced modelling, simulation and prediction capabilities |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
Unconference sessions
11:30-12:30 EOSC collaborative frontiers to achieve interoperability and enhance scholarly data
About this session
This session explores advancements in scholarly data interoperability within EOSC. It examines the Scientific Knowledge Graph – Interoperability Framework (SKG-IF), a Research Data Alliance model for managing scholarly data, currently being utilized and enhanced in EOSC projects like GraspOS, SciLake, OSTrails, and FAIRCORE4EOSC. Representatives from research communities testing the framework will offer insights on its specific applications: data and metadata management, FAIRness, research assessment, and research discovery. The session aims to showcase collaborative efforts to enhance EOSC’s data interoperability and gather community feedback on the SKG-IF development roadmap.
Outcomes and key takeaways
This session focused on advancing scholarly data interoperability within EOSC, with particular emphasis on the Scientific Knowledge Graph – Interoperability Framework (SKG-IF). It featured presentations from experts and a moderated discussion on the next steps for EOSC.
Key outcomes included:
- EOSC community members gained deeper insights into the SKG-IF and its practical applications across various research domains.
- Stakeholders engaged in productive dialogue to optimize the SKG-IF, paving the way for its wider adoption within the EOSC ecosystem.
- EOSC projects leveraged community feedback to align their efforts and maximize the impact of their results.
Session organisers
GraspOS, SciLake, OSTrails, FAIRCORE4EOSC
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Stefania Amodeo, OpenAIRE | Opening by the chair |
| Thanasis Vergoulis, Athena Research Centre | The SKG Interoperability Framework: progress and challenges in EOSC onboarding |
| Elli Papadopoulou, Athena Research Centre | Steps towards FAIRness, interconnectivity and machine actionability across all research phases |
| Matt Buys, DataCite | Insights from the network of repository managers |
| Andrea Mannocci, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche | Insights from research assessment and bibliometric experts |
| Moderator | Resources |
|---|---|
| Giulia Malaguarnera, OpenAIRE | Discussion: Next steps in EOSC |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
11:30-12:30 Open Science Competence Center in the EOSC and beyond
About this session
This unconference session examines the roles and definitions of Competence Centres within the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). Participants will discuss their scope, share initiatives, evaluate impacts, and identify challenges and opportunities. Updates on the OSCARS and EVERSE projects and the Skills4EOSC Network will guide the discussion. The participant-driven format promotes collaboration, allowing attendees to share experiences and contextualise initiatives. A panel discussion will engage the audience using interactive tools. The session aims to develop short-/mid-term synergies across projects and start work towards a community paper on Competence Centres’ goals, strategies, and their relation to EOSC Nodes.
Session organisers
Skills4EOSC, OSCARS, EOSC-EuroScienceGateway, EOSCFocus, EVERSE, OA5 expert group
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Natalia Galica, EOSC Focus | Opening of the session |
| Romain David, European Research Infrastructure on Highly Pathogenic Agents Sara di Giorgio, GARR | Introduction to CCs’ roles and missions, taking stock of results from Skills4EOSC and OSCARS |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Natalia Galica, EOSC Focus (Chair) Sara di Giorgio, Skills4EOSC, GARR Romain David, OSCARS, European Research Infrastructure on Highly Pathogenic Agents Anika Erxleben-Eggenhofer, Galaxy community & EuroScienceGateway, University of Freiburg Fotis Psomopoulos, EVERSE, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas | Panel discussion |
| Sara di Giorgio, Skills4EOSC, GARR | Skills4EOSC Competence Centres Network |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
14:00-15:00 Data competencies: Training, education, qualification for researchers and data stewards
About this session
Training and education are important prerequisites for research data management and data science. At European level and within the EOSC, there are already a number of projects dealing with this topic, e.g. Skills4EOSC and ELIXIR/TeSS. At national level, the German NFDI addresses capacity building at both disciplinary and cross-cutting levels. In this unconference, we want to bring national and European actors together to raise awareness, share knowledge and perspectives, and encourage collaboration and discussion on alignment. Verifiable, trustworthy credentials will be a particular focus, as the responsible use of data within ethical and legal constraints becomes increasingly important.
Session organisers
NFDI Section EduTrain, NFDI4Health, DALIA Knowledge-Base for FAIR data usage and knowledge graph
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Jens Dierkes, University of Cologne | Opening by the chair |
| Jens Dierkes, University of Cologne Jochen Ortmeyer, RWTH Aachen University | Brief introduction to training and education – NFDI perspective/initiatives |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Ulrich Sax, University Medical Center Göttingen (chair) Konrad Förstner, ZB MED Information Centre for Life Sciences Jochen Ortmeyer, RWTH Aachen University Celia van Gelder, Health-RI, ELIXIR Netherlands, Dutch Techcentre for Life Sciences Aneta Pazik-Aybar, National Science Centre Poland | Panel discussion with representatives of relevant stakeholder groups |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
| Participants | Poll results |
17:00-18:00 Findability in FAIR: Touchpoints between EOSC and Open Web Search
About this session
This session explores novel ways for current and future collaboration in findability (F) in FAIR, and how it contributes to the future goals on FAIR data and principles in the context of EOSC. The session addresses the importance of transparency in development of search applications and tools, and discusses how widening collaboration may benefit the whole research community. The session investigates synergies within science-search-focused contexts through examples from OpenWebSearch.eu, FAIRCORE4EOSC and FAIR-IMPACT. It discusses how improved findability impacts science, industry and society as a whole. It contributes to the objectives outlined in the EOSC Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda and to Europe’s sovereignty for accessing and using the web.
We will engage the audience into discussions through an audience interaction platform, and approach the topic of findability with emphasis on collaboration. This session will be a great opportunity to find synergies and boost ideas by injecting the user perspective.
Outcomes and key takeaways
We all know why persistent identifiers (PIDs) are needed and why they are so important in furthering findability of research outputs, but there is a genuine interest in and call for concrete best practice examples of PID implementation and usage. The FAIR-IMPACT project addresses this through the work of eight integrated use case partners representing different scientific domains. Examples mentioned were use cases around versioning, sensitive data management, and granularity. The panel also deliberated upon the role of PIDs in intensifying research object exposure across the web.
Another key focus of the session was the use of web data and web search to enhance findability. The concept of an Open Web Index (OWI) was introduced, generating interest in leveraging subsets of the index to enrich search capabilities within research repositories. The panel also discussed the potential of combining language models with high-quality scientific databases through Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to further improve findability.
During the panel, also the improvements for findability by services from the FAIRCORE4EOSC project were highlighted, e.g. through EOSC RD-Graph and PID-Graph, interlinked Knowledge Graphs, which enhance the findability of data and makes the connections between research products and actors visible. The Research Activity Identifiers (RAiDs) enable researchers and publishers to track and find research activities and players related to a project and the connections between them. Lastly, the Metadata Schema & Crosswalk Registry (MSCR) and the Datatype Registry (DTR) provide registration and findability for schemas, crosswalks and data types across all research disciplines that were in domain specific community data silos before.
Key takeaways:
- Cross-stakeholder and cross-domain collaboration on findability generates comprehensive end results and increased impact
- There is a demand for more concrete best practice examples of PID implementation and usage related to the various research life cycle workflows, clearly also showcasing the benefits involved
- Intensified findability can be accomplished e.g. through leveraging Open Web Index, exposure of connectivity between research products, and exposure of schemas, crosswalks and data types across research domains
Session organisers
FAIRCORE4EOSC, FAIR-IMPACT, OpenWebSearch.eu
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Paolo Manghi, OpenAIRE | Introduction to innovative solutions to improve findability from user perspective by FAIRCORE4EOSC |
| Michael Granitzer, University of Passau | Outside of the EOSC box – how can potential users in the research community benefit from novel solutions to access information in the web with examples from OpenWebSearch.eu |
| Josefine Nordling, CSC – IT Center for Science | For the benefit of end-users in the European research community – FAIR-IMPACT addressing findability via project and community collaboration |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Nick Juty, University of Manchester (moderator) Paolo Manghi, OpenAIRE Josefine Nordling, CSC – IT Center for Science Michael Granitzer, University of Passau Anna-Lena Flügel, German Climate Computation Center | Panel discussion and Q&A: Crucial directions through collaboration aiming at developing findability benefiting the potential users among the European research community |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
| Participants | Poll results |
Plenary
09:00-10:30 FAIR data for AI and AI for FAIR data
About this session
Opened by an inspirational keynote by Professor Julia Lane from New York University looking at Artificial Intelligence (AI) trends and how FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles are now being adapted in the context of AI models and datasets, the session continues with a panel aimed at further exploring the role of FAIR data for AI and AI for FAIR data. The panel discussion will address questions such as:
- Can FAIR data improve the understanding of the provenance of AI models?
- Generative AI needs high-quality data: to what extent can FAIR metadata be useful for that?
- Can AI support researchers and data practitioners to automatically produce FAIR data and/or metadata?
Outcomes and key takeaways
The keynote emphasised the importance of investing in the unseen “plumbing” that makes infrastructures work. Funders and stakeholders tend to focus on the “sparkling fountain” representing infrastructure outcomes, but it is the plumbing that ensures safe, secure, and trustworthy data. The speaker highlighted that AI’s precision relies on access to massive, high-quality data, making data investments vital. Impactful outcomes can be achieved by incentivising data sharing and curation.
The idea of a “third unit” of academic currency, possibly through citations of metadata, was suggested as a way to recognise and reward contributions to open data. To democratise data further, data could be integrated into publications, allowing contributors to be cited when their data is reused. AI might play a role here, helping create systems to encourage better data curation.
The speaker concluded by underscoring the link between AI-driven advancements and FAIR principles, calling for continued democratisation and institutionalisation of data-sharing efforts.
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Klaus Tochtermann, ZBW and EOSC Association | Welcome by the chair |
| Julia Lane, New York University | FAIR data for AI and AI for FAIR data |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Klaus Tochtermann, Director of the ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre for Economics and University and Director at the EOSC Association (Chair) Michael Goedicke, paluno – the Ruhr Institute for Software Technology Julia Lane, New York University Alvaro López García, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) | Panel discussion |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
14:00-15:30 EOSC impact and opportunities on the infrastructure landscape
About this session
What is the impact of EOSC and specifically of the EOSC Federation on existing national infrastructures? This is one of the most frequently asked questions when discussing EOSC in different countries. In this session, representatives of different German infrastructures will reflect on the topic highlighting the challenges and opportunities that they see from their perspective. These introductory lightning talks will set the scene for a panel discussion that will include policy makers and infrastructure managers from different European countries. This session is jointly organised by the EOSC tripartite collaboration and NFDI, the German National Research Data Infrastructure.
Session organisers
EOSC Tripartite collaboration, NFDI, and the German National Research Data Infrastructure
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| York Sure-Vetter, Director of the German National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) | Welcome by the chair |
| Christian Grimm, the German National Research and Education Network (DFN) | EOSC impact and opportunities on the infrastructure landscape: The infrastructure landscape in Germany |
| Sonja Schimmler, Fraunhofer/TU Berlin and Base4NFDI project | Base4NFDI: Basic services for the German research community |
| Constanze Curdt, Helmholtz Metadata Collaboration (HMC) | The Helmholtz Metadata Collaboration (HMC) – Making Helmholtz Data FAIR |
| Andreas Witt, University of Mannheim/Leibniz Institute for the German Language in Mannheim, CLARIN ERIC | Text+: NFDI consortium for language based research data |
| Philipp Wieder, GWDG and EOSC EU Node Contributor | Setting the scene: From an infrastructure provider perspective |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Mauro Campanella, Italian National Research and Education Network (GARR) Andy Götz, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) Stefan Hanslik, Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBFW) Anna Krivjanská, Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information (CVTI SR) Marion Steinberger, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) | Panel discussion with invited panelists |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
14:00-15:30 Closing of EOSC Symposium 2024
Outcomes and key takeaways
The closing session of the EOSC Symposium emphasised effective data management, likening it to gold mining, where investment and effort are essential for long-term success. A positive “can-do” spirit emerged, marking a shift from a focus on “what” to “how,” and focusing on building the EOSC Federation. Significant milestones were celebrated, including the launch of the first node of the EOSC Federation and a growing number of registered participants, reflecting increased interest and momentum. The aspiration is for the EOSC Federation to become a symbol of quality and reliability, acting as a catalyst for Open Science in Europe and beyond. Participants were encouraged to prepare for the next steps forward, leveraging strong policy support and embracing the call to “go EOSC”.
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Ute Gunsenheimer, Secretary General of the EOSC Association | Welcome from the chair |
| Dr. Jochen Zachgo, Director-General for Higher Education, Research Systems, and Education Funding, Federal Ministry of Education and Research | Closing message from Germany |
| Dejan Dvorsek, DG RTD, European Commission Stefan Hanslik, EOSC Steering Board Ute Gunsenheimer, EOSC Association | Final remarks by the EOSC Tripartite Governance |
Breakout sessions
11:00-12:30 Thematic contributions to EOSC
About this session
The session intends to collect a broad insight into the needs of scientific domains in order to stimulate necessary actions for smooth integration of their data services into the EOSC federation of connected nodes. Selected disciplines/domains cover the diversity of scientific communities in their readiness to develop and maintain an EOSC node. Domain-specific EOSC nodes will have different approaches and capabilities to operate services for their own community and, especially, beyond. These differences include technical aspects but also others, such as organizational and financial which may affect enrolment of these nodes or onboarding of services to the EOSC federation. This will in longer terms define the structure and evolution dynamics of the federation.
Outcomes and key takeaways
The session focused on the process of establishing the EOSC Federation, in which a range of domain-specific nodes will participate. It brought together experts from various domains to discuss the readiness of different scientific fields and communities to join the Federation, covering organisational, technical, and financial considerations.
The audience gained a deeper understanding of the concept of nodes and learned about the’ readiness level of various communities to join the EOSC Federation. They also engaged in discussions, contributing questions to the panel. The aim was to empower the audience to assess their own readiness and to enhance their knowledge to advocate for the EOSC Federation within their communities.
The EOSC Federation will comprise various nodes, each involving different decision-making levels and community types. EOSC-A must clearly communicate the benefits of joining the Federation, with the challenge—and opportunity—of minimising overlaps. Nodes can enhance interdisciplinary interactions from both technical and knowledge-exchange perspectives.
Key Takeaways:
- Managing expectations will be crucial to success.
- Nodes will not replace each other. They will complement and strengthen each other.
Organisers
Marialuisa Lavitrano (University Milano Bicocca; EOSC Association), York Sure-Vetter (NFDI, KIT), Wilhelm Widmark (Stockholm University), Jan Hrušák (MEYS, ESFRI, EOSC Steering Board)
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Marialuisa Lavitrano, University of Milano-Bicocca, EOSC Association | Opening of the session |
| York Sure-Vetter, NFDI | Presentation |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Jens Habermann, BBMRI-ERIC | Thematic contributions to EOSC: BBMRI-ERIC |
| Sara Pittonet, Blue-Cloud 2026, Trust-IT | Blue-Cloud 2026: Thematic node for marine research and an incubator for the EU DTO |
| Andreas Witt, Leibniz Institute for the German Language, University of Mannheim | Language as a crucial domain for EOSC |
| Marek Cebecauer, J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences | Materials sciences and engineering domain in EOSC |
| Nils Hoffmann, German Network for Bioinformatics Infrastructure & ELIXIR Germany | Bioinformatics as a thematic node in EOSC |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
11:00-12:30 Deep dive into the EOSC EU Node
About this session
Join us for an in-depth session to learn from our panelists how the recently launched EOSC EU Node can support their multi-disciplinary and multi-national research workflows, as well as their visibility in the research community. Our distinguished panel includes representatives from both the research community and contributing organisations, sharing their use cases. Join us to get inspiration on how to use EOSC EU Node, as well as share your use cases and support us shape its evolution.
Session organisers
Fay Meimaraki (OpenAIRE), and Spiros Athanasiou (ATHENA RC)
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Spiros Athanasiou, Athena Research Center | Opening of the session |
| Panellists | Resources |
|---|---|
| Spiros Athanasiou, Athena Research Center (Chair) | Deep dive into the EOSC EU Node |
| Sandra Diaz Pier, Forschungszentrum Jülich | Boosting neuroscience research with HPC |
| Angeliki Adamaki, Lund University | ENVRI: Expectations and first examples from the EOSC EU Node services for researchers |
| Ivar Janmaat, SURF | SURF Research Cloud |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
11:00-12:30 ZBW Open Science session | Bringing Open Science into action: The role of educating young researchers
About this session
This session explores the important role of integrating Open Science into the training of early career researchers. It is essential not only to raise awareness of open science as such, but also to give good practices to researchers on how to apply them in their own field. Through the presentation of concrete examples, we will highlight innovative approaches and stimulate a discussion on practical strategies – in relation to, for example, Open Access, Open/FAIR Data, Open Research Software, and Open Educational Resources – with the aim of achieving Open Science Education.
Outcomes and key takeaways
This session explored the important role of integrating Open Science into the training of early career researchers. After the impulse statements, the audience was invited to tell about their experiences on three different topics:
- Challenges of educating Open Science and initiating a grassroot community: The audience stated that it is challenging to provide good training material. Existing material is often distributed in many disconnected repositories. Researchers and trainers need time and financial capacities. And it is not clear who is responsible to fill out the role of the Open Science trainer.
- Addressing ECR to stick to open and good scientific practices: Here, the audience said that Open Science training should already start on BA/MA level. We need to address supervisors and principal investigators as well. And we need to think about appropriate incentives to engage and participate.
- Helpful tools and resources for Open Science trainers and opportunities for networking and collaboration: Here, the audience and the speakers suggested many helpful resources via Slido. They said that involving local communities with advocates from all disciplines is crucial. A standardisation of certification would be welcomed also.
Session organisers
Guido Scherp, ZBW; Tamara Heck, DIPF; and Verena Weimer, DIPF
| Speakers | Resources |
|---|---|
| Guido Scherp, ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre for Economics | Opening of the session |
| Julia Pries-Buchheit, Kiel University | Towards effective Open Science education |
| Maura Burke, Utrecht University | Presenting Open Science as science in ECR Training: Perils and benefits |
| Helen Clare, Jisc | Developing Open Science teachers and trainers: Pathways to success |
| Questions | Resources |
|---|---|
| Participants | Questions posted on Slido |
| Participants | Poll results |
- The bridge between EOSC and public authorities: DECIDO-EOSC CC-4-PA | Xavier Salazar Forn, EGI Foundation
- Czech EOSC Working Groups: Development of ecosystem for FAIR data | Jaroslav Juracek, Masaryk University
- Pilot training programme (Master) in data management and data curation-MDMC | Mariarita de Luca, Area Science Park
- Finding interdisciplinary connections – Implementing FAIR research information in NFDI4Culture | Linnaea Soehn, Academy of Sciences and Literature | Mainz
- FAIR digital twins of protein variants for pandemic preparedness | Lilli Schuckert, Leiden Institute for Advanced Computer Science
- Blue-Cloud 2026 – Federating European FAIR and open research ecosystems | Dick Schaap, MARIS / Blue-Cloud 2026
- FAIR data for energy systems research | Oliver Werth, OFFIS
- Decentralised and collaborative: HeFDI data school RDM training | Stephanie Werner, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences
- de.KCD: German Competence Center Cloud-Technologies for data management and processing | Sebastian Jünemann, Forschungszentrum Jülich
- OSTrails: Delivering the commons to plan-track-assess research in EOSC | Elli Papadopoulou, ATHENA Research Center
- The NFDI knowledge graph infrastructure service for FAIR data management | Lozana Rossenova, TIB – Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology
- OpenCitations: redesigning an open infrastructure according to the FAIR principles | Silvio Peroni, University of Bologna
- Base4NFDI: Supporting RDM activities via sustainable core services | Melina Jander, State and University Library Goettingen
- Quality standards for services: the use case of the OGS | Alessandra Giorgetti, Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale
- Galaxy Europe – An IT infrastructure for FAIR data analysis | Jérôme Detoc, IFREMER
- ASSURED. A training and accreditation service for safe research | Simon Parker, DKFZ
- ELIXIR and the EOSC ecosystem | Jonathan Tedds, ELIXIR Europe
- Research commons – an opportunity for European research infrastructure | Tilo Mathes, Research Space
- Elevating cloud storage systems into FAIR digital objects | Katja Jansen, IT Center of the RWTH Aachen University
- Enabling large N-dimensional imaging data in EOSC with OME-Zarr | Christian Schmidt, DKFZ
Photos from day 1
Photos from day 2
Photos from day 3
All photographs by Andrew Grauman