EOSC EU Node in the Spotlight: Highlights and Milestones from the 2024 EOSC Symposium

The recent EOSC Symposium in Berlin (October 21-23) was a landmark event, marking the official launch of the EOSC EU Node and showcasing its potential to enhance the development of an integrated and effective digital research ecosystem. Here is a recap of the exciting events surrounding the launch:

The Symposium kicked off with an engaging opening session that included the EOSC EU Node’s journey from inception to full deployment. European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Iliana Ivanova, and Deputy Director-General at DG RTD, Signe Ratso, highlighted the transformative impact of the EOSC EU Node, which provides researchers and citizen scientists with comprehensive access to data, publications, and powerful tools. The stage was set for the following days, promising insights into how this new Node would serve as a central resource for Open Science collaboration across Europe.

On the second day, during the plenary session on the EOSC Federation, the EOSC EU Node was officially launched. Acting DG CNECT Director, Gustav Kalbe, emphasised the pivotal role of the Node within the broader global digital infrastructure, underscoring the European Commission's commitment to fostering Open Science, data accessibility, and collaborative research efforts. The launch was not just a ceremonial moment; it also showcased the EOSC EU Node capabilities presented by Peter Szegedi, Policy Officer DG CNECT, from bulk data transfer to virtual machines and interactive notebooks. As of 22 October, researchers have access to a robust suite of resources that will allow them to conduct complex, data-intensive research within a unified and secure environment.

The third day offered a detailed exploration of the EOSC EU Node capabilities. Led by Spiros Athanasiou from Athena Research Center, the session “Deep Dive into the EOSC EU Node” featured panellists who shared their firsthand experiences with the Node and outlined its role in multidisciplinary research. Angeliki Adamaki from Lund University highlighted use cases from the ENVRI community, illustrating how the Node facilitates collaboration and data sharing for research in high-risk geohazard areas in Greece. Adamaki's team successfully employed interactive notebooks, file management tools, and JupyterLab services for streamlined data analysis and sharing, emphasizing the role of the Node in creating a collaborative environment for research and teaching.

Sandra Diaz Pier from Forschungszentrum Jülich demonstrated how the EOSC EU Node supports neuroscience research with HPC infrastructure, enabling advanced simulations and data modelling. She showed workflows with NEST Desktop and The Virtual Brain simulator, tools developed in the context of the European projects EBRAINS 2.0 and eBRAIN-Health, which exemplify the utility of the Node in data-heavy scientific fields, making it an invaluable resource for projects requiring high computational power and complex data handling.

Throughout the Symposium, the EOSC EU Node info booth was bustling with attendees eager to learn more about the new platform. Researchers, technology providers, and members of the scientific community took the opportunity to ask questions, explore potential applications, and sign up for the User and Technology Forums. This engagement reflects the excitement surrounding the EOSC EU Node, as participants across various fields see it as a valuable addition to their research toolkit.

The successful launch of the EOSC EU Node at the EOSC Symposium represents a significant step forward for Open Science across Europe. The positive feedback from attendees underscores the potential of the Node to transform how researchers across Europe access and use scientific resources, fostering a new era of collaboration and innovation. As the Node continues to evolve, it will undoubtedly serve as a blueprint for future nodes, contributing to a cohesive and powerful network for scientific advancement.

For more information on the EOSC EU Node and the services it offers, visit the EOSC EU Node website and stay tuned for further developments.

Originally published on the EOSC EU Node Website.