Empowering Collaborations: AquaINFRA at the EOSC Winter School 2024

The EOSC Winter School 2024, a pivotal event fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, recently unfolded in the vibrant city of Thessaloniki, Greece, from January 29 to February 1. As a gathering of minds from diverse EOSC-related projects, the school aimed to set the stage for innovation, accelerate scientific discoveries, and empower researchers across Europe and beyond.

The meeting served as an opportunity for the AquaINFRA project to engage with other diverse EOSC projects, with Kaori Otsu from CREAF acting as both coordinator and participant. Representing not only AquaINFRA but also the EOSC Focus project, Kaori, alongside AquaINFRA partner Merret Buurman from IGB, contributed to Opportunity Area 4 (OA4) discussions, focusing on User and Resource Environments, a pivotal aspect of EOSC. In addition, Sadra Matmir from HSBO represented AquaINFRA by actively participating in Opportunity Area 5 (OA5), centring on Skills, Training, Rewards, Recognition & Upskilling.

The school kicked off with Ute Gunsenheimer, representing the EOSC Association, inaugurating the Plenary Session. The subsequent sessions were a testament to the diverse perspectives brought together, creating a rich tapestry of insights and experiences.

In alignment with short-term objectives, the EOSC Association envisions structured collaboration between the Task Forces and EOSC projects, fostering hands-on, technical engagements. The focus remains on the six Opportunity Areas, including PIDs, Metadata, Ontologies & Interoperability, FAIR Assessment & Alignment, User & Resource Environments, Skills, Training, Rewards, Recognition & Upskilling, and Open Scholarly Communication.

Mid-term goals aim to streamline project onboarding and shape EOSC’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) 2.0 through robust inter-project collaborations. Looking ahead, the long-term vision is to enhance the potential of Horizon Europe’s EOSC-related projects, ensuring sustainable outcomes that enrich the ESOC deployment and maximize project impact.

To delve deeper into the insights and discussions at the EOSC Winter School 2024, explore the official webpage. AquaINFRA remains an active part of these collaborative efforts, contributing to the collective endeavour of establishing a dynamic and inclusive research ecosystem.