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.
EOSC CZ announces the leaders of its working groups: Entering the next phase
The EOSC CZ initiative has successfully concluded its second-ever elections of working group leaders. The newly elected leaders will shape the direction of expert communities in the coming period and contribute to the development of research data management in the Czech Republic as well as in the European context.
The election process took place over two months and culminated in the voting held from 23 to 26 March 2026 via a secure online system. The voting was anonymous and open to all working group members across institutions.
A new feature this year was the possibility to nominate candidates from outside the existing working group membership, broadening opportunities for additional experts to get involved. In total, 10 candidates were nominated, covering all ten working groups.
Voter turnout in all groups significantly exceeded the required 30% threshold for validity, confirming strong community engagement and interest in the future direction of the groups. Overall, 52% of working group members participated in the vote, and all candidates were elected. Eight working groups continue under their current leaders, who have received a renewed mandate. In two groups – Physical Sciences and Environmental Sciences – new leadership was elected, bringing fresh perspectives.
“Clearly defined rules and a transparent election process contributed to the trust of all participants. Thanks to the active involvement of working group members, the results carry strong legitimacy and provide the new leadership with a solid mandate,” says Lukáš Patrinčiak, Chair of the Election Committee.
The new leadership takes over the working groups at a time when the EOSC CZ initiative is shifting from building infrastructure to its practical use, service development, and strengthening its impact in the Czech and European research landscape. They are entering a phase where long-term sustainability and the real-world application of achieved results become key. The ability of communities to collaborate, share experience, and translate outcomes into everyday research practice plays a crucial role. In this process, EOSC CZ working groups continue to connect experts across institutions and disciplines, contributing to the development of the national data infrastructure and strengthening European collaboration.
“The elections ran smoothly and confirmed that the EOSC CZ working group community is not only strong in expertise but also actively engaged in collective decision-making. We highly appreciate the high turnout and the willingness of candidates to take responsibility for the future development of their groups,” says Jaroslav Juráček, head of the EOSC CZ Secretariat.
We congratulate the newly elected working group leaders and wish them every success in the upcoming period. At the same time, we would like to thank Jana Klánová and Jan Chudoba for their leadership to date and their significant contribution to the development of the working groups and the EOSC CZ initiative as a whole.
Based on the election results, the following individuals were elected as working group leaders:
Complete profiles of the working group leaders are available in the booklet on the Working Group Leaders Elections 2026 webpage.