Members of the EOSC CZ Working Groups Elect Their Representatives Again After Two Years
EOSC CZ enters a new phase: this year’s working group elections reflect the shift toward practical use of the infrastructure and the development of services.
Eight Czech Representatives Contributed to Expert Discussions at EOSC Winter School 2025
From January 20–23, 2025, the second EOSC Association Winter School took place in Seville, Spain, focusing on the emerging federation of EOSC Nodes. With more than 150 participants from seven thematic areas and a broad range of interactive discussions, the event served as a key venue for knowledge exchange and fostering collaboration. Key topics included interoperability, funding, and sustainability of the EOSC federation, as well as the role of research infrastructures and service providers. Attendees appreciated not only the expert program but also the informal networking opportunities and the chance to meet representatives from across the EOSC ecosystem in person.
One of the most debated topics was the governance of the EOSC federation, its sustainability, and funding models. Representatives from various countries shared their experiences and proposals for future cooperation models. There was a consensus on the need to strengthen support for service providers and establish clear rules for federated services.
The Czech Republic was represented by eight experts who actively engaged in discussions and thematic sessions. Their contributions focused on FAIR approaches, strategic pillars of EOSC, interoperability, and the sustainability of the federation. Special emphasis was placed on linking various projects funded under the European framework program Horizon Europe and ensuring the long-term sustainability of their outcomes. Participants also agreed that the in-person meeting contributed to a deeper understanding of current challenges and the formation of new partnerships within the EOSC initiative.
"The Winter School offers a unique insight into the functioning of EOSC and allows you to influence its future direction. The most valuable part, in my opinion, were the discussions, where experiences and insights from other projects and practical implementations were frequently shared. Many of these takeaways will be useful for the National Repository Platform (NRP) project in the Czech Republic. The diversity of experiences, expertise, and professional backgrounds significantly shaped the event’s atmosphere and demonstrated the complexity of the EOSC landscape," summarized Ilona Trtíková, a member of the European EOSC working group on FAIR Metrics and Digital Objects.
EOSC Winter School 2025 once again demonstrated that in-person meetings and intensive knowledge exchange are irreplaceable for effective collaboration and the development of the EOSC federation. The Czech delegation is already looking forward to the third edition in 2026.
Reflections from Czech Representatives
- Kateřina Slaninová focused on FAIR approaches in metadata and digital objects: "It was fascinating to see the latest developments in the European EOSC, discuss key topics, and actively connect with experts and stakeholders from ongoing projects. In my opinion, the EOSC Winter School successfully facilitated this engagement."
- Ilona Trtíková, like Kateřina, participated in the European working group on FAIR Metrics and Digital Objects, contributing to sessions on FAIR approaches in metadata and digital objects: "Discussions covered various topics such as repository trustworthiness, methods for testing FAIR compliance, and whether such testing should be a mandatory component of repositories."
- Tereza Šímová appreciated the session on EOSC’s strategic pillars: "The discussions on funding and federation governance were highly valuable. The emphasis on interoperability and open standards sets a clear direction for future development. It was also fantastic to meet colleagues in person, facilitating not only knowledge sharing but also meaningful networking. The Winter School provided an excellent environment for building connections and exchanging experiences across the EOSC community."
- Jiří Marek contributed to organizing two program sessions dedicated to interoperability: "One of the key takeaways was mapping more than 140 tools and recommendations for interoperability, along with a proposal to establish an 'EOSC Interoperability Board' to unify standards for the future EOSC federation and enhance the interoperability of services, data, and the entire federation."
- Petr Holub focused on aligning the European Health Data Space (EHDS) with EOSC: "My main focus was the integration of EHDS and EOSC, given my role as chair of the working group on health data."
Other Czech representatives included Marek Cebecauer, Jan Pavlíček, Miroslav Ruda, and Lukáš Vojáček.
