The European Open Science Cloud
The ambition of the European Open Science Cloud, known as EOSC, is to develop a 'Web of FAIR Data and Services’ for science in Europe. EOSC will be a multi-disciplinary environment where researchers can publish, find and re-use data, tools and services, enabling them to better conduct their work.
EOSC builds on existing infrastructure and services supported by the European Commission, Member States and research communities. It brings these together in a federated ‘system of systems’ approach, adding value by aggregating content and enabling services to be used together.
This environment will operate under well-defined conditions to ensure trust and safeguard the public interest. Expectations of service providers and users will be made explicit to ensure appropriate behaviour.
EOSC will improve the situation for researchers in many ways, namely:
- Seamless access to content and services via common AAI;
- Access to data from various sources that are FAIR and, ideally, open;
- Access to services for storage, computation, analysis, preservation and more;
- Adoption of standards so data and services can be combined;
- Helpdesk, training and support to improve the use of EOSC.
EOSC is recognised by the Council of the European Union as the pilot action to deepen the new European Research Area (ERA). It is also recognised as the science, research and innovation data space which will be fully articulated with the other sectoral data spaces defined in the European strategy for data.
Source: European Commission
The Implementation of EOSC
The implementation of the EOSC is based on a long-term process of alignment and coordination pursued by the Commission since 2015. This has involved a diverse range of stakeholders across the European research landscape.
2018-2020
In the initial phase of implementation (2018-2020) the European Commission invested around €250 million to prototype components of the EOSC through calls for projects under Horizon 2020. The European Commission also launched an interim EOSC Governance to prepare the strategic orientations for the EOSC implementation post-2020.
2021-2030
The current phase of implementation (2021-2030), is taking place in the context of the EOSC European co-programmed partnership launched at the Research and Innovation Days 2021.
The Work Programme and priorities are defined according to the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) which is co-developed with the entire EOSC community.
Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda
EOSC is transitioning to a more stakeholder-driven approach with a shared vision, common objectives and complementary contributions at European, national and institutional levels.
A co-investment (with in-kind and financial contributions) by the EU and non-EU partners of at least €1 billion is foreseen through 2027. The EOSC Association and the Commission are engaged in a process to define the EOSC evolution and operations post-2027, including considerations of governance, funding and the future of the EOSC Partnership.
Source: European Commission
The EOSC Partnership
The European Open Science Cloud has been granted special status as a co-programmed European Partnership. European Partnership status fortifies EOSC with European funding of almost €500 million and an in-kind contribution of the partners of also €500 million. The aim is to improve the storing, sharing and especially the combining and reusing of research data across borders and scientific disciplines.
The Partnership brings together institutional, national and European initiatives and engages all relevant stakeholders to co-design and deploy a European Research Data Commons where data are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR).
This European contribution to a 'Web of FAIR Data and Related Services for Science' will enhance the possibilities for researchers to find, share and reuse publications, data, and software, leading to new insights and innovations, higher research productivity and improved reproducibility in science.
The Partnership represents a new governance for EOSC as the first implementation phase of EOSC begins. The Partnership includes the European Commission and the EOSC Association; additionally, the Partnership Board invites participation by representatives of the Member States and Associated Countries, which are organized as a European Commission Expert Group, the EOSC Steering Board. These three entities together comprise the Tripartite Collaboration, which serves to govern EOSC.
The European Open Science Cloud will enable researchers to find, create, share and reuse all forms of digital knowledge – such as publications, data and software - leading to new insights and innovations, higher research productivity and improved reproducibility in science. To successfully support the digital transformation of science, this important Partnership must involve all actors – the research communities, our Universities and research institutions, service providers as well as our Member States.
Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner of Innovation, Research, Culture, Education & Youth
The Partnership will pave the way for advancing EOSC as the research foundation of the industry-driven European Data Spaces that focus on various sectors relevant for society. EOSC will start federating and strengthening research disciplines and will foster interdisciplinary research. It will support research and e-Infrastructures to be more widely used and better connected. Overall, we are working on a cultural and technical transition of the way we do science in Europe and beyond. A more efficient and reproducible science trusted by society, more relevant to societal needs and with increased involvement of the society (e.g. through Citizen Science developments).
Karel Luyben, EOSC Association President