ZAGREB — The fourth edition of Croatia’s National Tripartite Event took place on 29 April 2026 as part of the Days of e-Infrastructure conference, Srce DEI 2026. Organised by University of Zagreb University Computing Centre, the event convened national and European stakeholders to exchange updates on policy developments, implementation progress, and the advancement of the EOSC Federation.
Discussions underscored the continued evolution of EOSC as an open and trusted federation supporting the implementation of the EU’s Open Science Policy. Ana Teresa Maia Mota, Policy Officer at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), highlighted EOSC’s role as a key enabler within the European Research Area (ERA), interconnecting FAIR research data and improving Open Science practices.
From the perspective of the EOSC Association, Klaus Tochtermann provided an update on the EOSC Federation, including its expansion through the second-wave candidate EOSC Nodes. He also outlined the strategic priorities for 2026, which focus on establishing a sustainable operational structure, supporting the transition to production, and enabling continued growth. He noted the revision of the EOSC Federation Handbook, alongside the planned establishment of a user forum, as an important step towards strengthening governance and community engagement.
At the national level, Croatia reported substantial progress in aligning its research and innovation system with Open Science principles. The national Open Science Plan, adopted in 2025 and presented by Hrvoje Meštrić of the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, provides a strategic framework covering open access, research data, research infrastructures, research assessment, skills development, and citizen science. Its implementation will be monitored through a dedicated governance mechanism.
Further developments were presented by Draženko Celjak of University of Zagreb University Computing Centre, including progress on the Croatian Open Science Cloud initiative and preparations for the establishment of the Croatian Diamond Open Access Competence Centre within the broader European framework.
The event reaffirmed Croatia’s continued commitment to EOSC and Open Science, demonstrating clear progress in both policy alignment and implementation across the national research ecosystem.
