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Working groups for the implementation of the EOSC initiative in Czechia

Ilona Trtíková

Following the organisation of a workshop on the implementation of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) initiative in Czechia that was held under the organisation auspices of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the National Library of Technology and the e-INFRA CZ large research infrastructure on 23rd September 2021 in the conference premises of the Technology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, working groups were established to deal with expert issues related to the development of the Czech national data infrastructure, its architecture and the provision of related e-services.

The definition of the technical and other parameters of the Czech national data infrastructure will thus take place on the platforms of the working groups for the implementation of the EOSC initiative, which will focus on the following cross-cutting topics:

Scientific clusters should also be established in individual research disciplinary areas to build scientific repositories of the Czech national data infrastructure. To start with, the division of the scientific areas into the following disciplinary clusters has been made:

  • Physical sciences;
  • Material sciences;
  • Astronomy, astrophysics and space;
  • Energy;
  • Environmental sciences;
  • Biological sciences;
  • Medical sciences;
  • Social sciences;
  • Humanities.

The initial round of registration to become a member of the working groups was due to 15th October 2021. Nevertheless, the working groups still remain open to new potential candidates for cooperation. Further information on the activities of the working groups can be obtained at eosc-info@e-infra.cz. Update on the activities of the working groups and important news regarding the implementation of the EOSC initiative in Czechia will be regularly posted on the e-INFRA CZ large research infrastructure website.

Coordination Committee for the Implementation of the EOSC Initiative in Czechia

In late 2020, a working platform to conduct expert debates on the preparation of the implementation of the EOSC initiative in Czechia was established, thus associating delegates of the state administration bodies and representatives of Czech universities, the Czech Academy of Sciences and other research institutions active in the field of providing the e-infrastructure services. The working platform has been meeting regularly since February 2021 and discussed the strategy approach to build the Czech national data infrastructure resulting in the preparation of the framework architecture for the implementation of the EOSC initiative in Czechia. At the end of this year, the working platform will be transformed into the Coordination Committee for the Implementation of the EOSC Initiative in Czechia, to become an expert advisory board to the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports bringing together representatives of key Czech research stakeholders. The Coordination Committee will adopt recommendations for the preparation of the investment interventions of the Operational Programme Johannes Amos Comenius (OP JAK), within which CZK 2.5 billion is indicatively allocated for the development of the national data infrastructure in Czechia.