FAIR into practice in the vision of a European Open Science Cloud (EOSC)
Since 2015, the EOSC concept has put on the table the idea of realising an open and trusted environment for accessing and managing a wide range of publicly funded research data and related services. One of the priorities highlighted in the EOSC Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) is the establishment of the Web of FAIR data and a Minimum Viable EOSC by 2027, featuring the core components and functions to enable EOSC to operate.
The mission of helping researchers and scientists in reaping the full benefits of data-driven science paved the way for the EOSC implementation phase (2021-2027), which requires active engagement and support to ensure widespread implementation and adoption of the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles. Defining & sharing standards and developing tools and services to allow researchers to find, access, reuse and combine research results more easily would reach the goal.
FAIRCORE4EOSC and FAIR-IMPACT, two new Horizon Europe projects which kicked off in June 2022, started to work together in supporting the realisation of this web of FAIR data and services by delivering new core infrastructure components as well as by supporting the implementation of FAIR-enabling practices, tools, and services.
RDA-AISBL is involved in FAIR IMPACT in tasks relating to interoperability. In particular tasks relating to foster global alignment of FAIR frameworks and examining interoperability mechanisms across institutions and domains.
Both projects will contribute to the implementation of the FAIR principles across the European Open Science Cloud in close collaboration with other actors in the EOSC ecosystem, including the EOSC Association, the H2020 project EOSC-Future and the Horizon Europe projects funded to enable an operational, open and FAIR EOSC ecosystem[1].
| A FAIR Collaboration
The collaboration between FAIRCORE4EOSC and FAIR-IMPACT is ensured both at coordination and technical levels.
Communication meetings will secure information exchange, especially via the six organisations, CSC, CNR, DANS, INRIA, SURF, and Trust-IT, that are partnering in both projects. A Technical Bridging Team, led by DANS and SURF, is establishing a technical alignment between the two projects and with the broader technical EOSC infrastructure. The technical leads, as well as the project coordinators of FAIRCORE4EOSC, and FAIR-IMPACT, are setting the ground for this crucial brick, together with the EOSC Future and the CTO of the EOSC Association.
| Mechanisms to boost FAIR Implementation
FAIR-IMPACT has also set up a FAIR Implementation Team to foster a coherent approach toward stakeholders in different use cases. It establishes a joined-up approach with the FAIR-IMPACT leaders of the pillar action lines, who will be working to identify and adapt approaches, tools and solutions suitable for wider adoption of interoperable FAIR practices, with the partners leading the integrated use cases to support the adoption and implementation of FAIR-enabling practices.
A targeted landscape analysis of existing tools, approaches, and solutions will set the ground for the FAIR implementation framework of resources, which will be instrumental for the delivery of in-kind support to research-performing organisations (RPOs), repositories and data service providers, and national level initiatives. Among these resources there will also be the nascent set of nine EOSC-Core components developed by the FAIRCORE4EOSC project, necessary to enable a FAIR EOSC ecosystem, improving the discoverability and interoperability of an increased amount of research outputs.
The framework, periodically updated, will be openly available to support adoption by a wider range of stakeholders across Europe and globally through a series of open calls offering financial support to interested parties to implement a selection of the tools and methods identified.
Watch the two video interviews recorded at the kickoff meeting to learn more about the FAIR collaboration at the project and technical levels.
- A FAIR collaboration explained by Ingrid Dillo (FAIR-IMPACT) & Tommi Suominen (FAIRCORE4EOSC)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUOeMA725Rw - Bridging the gap between technical development and user communities in EOSC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4_kpiR4naE
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[1] Resulting from the HORIZON-INFRA-2021-EOSC-01-06 call