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February 2026
25 Feb 2026, 9:16
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Čeština
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Dear readers,
EOSC CZ is entering a phase in which less emphasis is placed on conceptual discussions, and greater attention is given to how things function in practice. An increasingly important role is played by those who work directly with data and services, as well as by the decisions that will shape their use in the years to come.
In the February issue, we therefore present topics related to the governance of expert communities, the development of open science, the practical management of research data, and the broader European context. The issue also features insights from everyday practice, alongside perspectives from individuals engaged in research and scholarship in a wider context.
We now invite you to explore the latest overview of current developments with us.
The EOSC CZ team
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Would you like to have a say in deciding which research projects receive funding? We are seeking experts to take part in the evaluation of mini-project proposals within the Open Science II project. Reviewers will be responsible for the expert assessment of proposals across a wide range of disciplines – from biomedicine, materials science, and data infrastructure to artificial intelligence, social sciences, and humanities.
Join us and help ensure a high-quality and fair evaluation process for projects with the potential to strengthen the Czech research environment.
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After two years, the EOSC CZ initiative is once again proceeding with the election of working group leaders. This is taking place at a time when the project is moving from building core infrastructure towards its practical implementation and the development of services. At this stage, the work of expert communities, the ability to set priorities, and the translation of existing outcomes into everyday research practice become decisive. At the same time, the question of long-term impact beyond 2028 is coming increasingly to the fore.
The call for candidates opened on 9 February and will run until 27 February 2026. Following its closure, a booklet presenting the candidates and their visions will be made publicly available.
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How is an environment for sharing and the long-term preservation of research data being developed in the Czech Republic? What role does the national data infrastructure play, and why are methodologists and repository managers indispensable in ensuring that data do not remain unused?
Together with Daniel Mikšík, we discussed the importance of metadata, the functioning of the National Repository Platform, and what recognising datasets as a fully-fledged research output could bring. Are you interested in these topics as well? Read Daniel’s full overview.
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How should the EOSC Federation function in practice? What determines whether research data and services will be genuinely used across Europe, and what role do European standards, cybersecurity, and the human factor play in this process? These were among the key topics addressed at the EOSC Winter School, held in Nice on 27–29 January.
The discussions focused primarily on the transition of the EOSC Federation from a conceptual framework to routine operation, as well as on issues of data and service interoperability, the quality and trustworthiness of resources, and the development of competences across expert communities.
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The handbook is intended for organisations that wish to make their resources and services available through the EOSC Federation, as well as for those preparing to join in the near future.
The updated edition reflects the EOSC Federation’s move towards production-level operation and its expansion in 2026. It provides an overview of the federation’s organisational structure, technical and operational principles. It also incorporates feedback from EOSC Nodes, projects, and expert groups. Moreover, it includes updated guidelines for making research resources and services available through the end of 2027.
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International Day of Women and Girls in Science
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated every year on 11 February. In the European EOSC context, this includes, for example, Jessica Parland-von Essen and Aneta Pazik-Aybar, coordinators of national EOSC Nodes in Finland and Poland. Their work demonstrates that functioning data infrastructures rely not only on technology but, above all, on the people who can develop and maintain them over the long term.
And what about other notable figures? You can read a summary of interviews with prominent women in academia and research that we have published recently on our social media channels.
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In 2023, Michael Londesborough was awarded the Order of the British Empire by Prince William for his contributions to science and its popularisation. He has been living and working in the Czech Republic since 2002, and his current research focuses on proton-boron fusion, which could provide a clean source of electricity in the future. Michael Londesborough may also be known from television, where he created an entertaining chemistry programme. The tall Englishman with Finnish roots speaks about his work so engagingly that he easily attracts enthusiastic listeners and fans.
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In discussions about the future of artificial intelligence, ideas are emerging about the creation of a joint European research institution, tentatively referred to as a “CERN for AI”. This is not a particular project but rather a set of hypothetical scenarios exploring how Europe could develop fundamental AI research over the long term as a counterbalance to the current dominance of the USA. The scenarios are based on the idea of an institutionally stable environment for cutting-edge research, enabling the concentration of efforts on AI safety, governance, and links to the public sector and industry. Emphasis is also placed on coordinated research.
In this context, the debate on “CERN for AI” also touches on areas long monitored by the EOSC CZ initiative: the management of research data, its use in the context of artificial intelligence, and the need for common European frameworks.
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We invite you to an online training called The repository from the users’ perspective: From needs to a functional solution, which will take place on 9 March at 2 pm. Be inspired by representatives of four repositories and UX specialists on how to approach repository design.
If you missed the last November webinar, Prepare your team for effective data management (plans), it will be repeated on 19 March at 9 am due to high demand. The session will also include time for specific questions and consultations with the instructor.
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We also provide several tips on international training opportunities.
All our training courses are available on the EOSC CZ Training Centre website. If you've missed any sessions, you can access the recordings of completed training events on our YouTube EOSC Czech Republic channel.
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Tips on further training
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Fri 27 Feb
The data.europa academy webinar will showcase what open data maturity means in practice and present the findings of the 2025 Open Data Maturity Report. Are you interested in how the Czech Republic was assessed and which best practices to follow? Join us for the session!
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Wed 25 Mar
The EGI Federation webinar will explain the significance of DEPs (Data Exploitation Platforms) and focus on questions such as how DEPs can help lower barriers for data access and analysis.
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In the field of Open Science, terminology is often used inconsistently. Managed by the National Technical Library, the Open Science glossary provides a clearly structured terminology in Czech, with English equivalents. It is intended for researchers, students, data stewards, research organisation management, and other stakeholders working with Open Science in practice. Each entry has an expert guarantor, allowing for direct contact in case of questions.
Try the Open Science glossary as a reference resource.
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The kick-off conference of the Open Science II project, which will take place at Charles University in Prague, will focus on working with research data, building and operating repositories, and sharing experience within the Czech and European Open Science initiatives.
The conference will provide an opportunity for experts from research institutions and EOSC CZ initiative projects to meet and will address practical questions regarding the implementation of Open Science in everyday practice.
Further information about the conference, including the programme and registration, will be available on the EOSC CZ website.
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It is now possible to submit proposals for presentations at PIDfest 2026, which will take place in Leiden, the Netherlands, on 27–29 October. The call for proposals is open until 22 March.
The conference will focus on connecting knowledge within the PID ecosystem, fostering cross-community collaboration, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of persistent identifiers. Participants can look forward to presentations, panel discussions, and workshops.
The proposal submission form can be found here.
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