EOSC Gravity

Brief description 

EOSC Gravity was established to guide the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) Partnership into a new governance and funding phase beyond 2027. Building on the foundations of the previous EOSC Focus initiative, EOSC Gravity will sustain and expand existing engagement efforts, while introducing new coordination and support mechanisms to strengthen the EOSC ecosystem. 

The project is structured around four main objectives, collectively known as "The Power of E4": 

• Evolving the EOSC Federation: EOSC Gravity will help refine the governance framework, expand the network of EOSC Nodes, and support the development of sustainable funding models to ensure seamless transnational access to research data and services.
• Enabling pan-European cooperation: The project will foster alignment between top-down strategies and bottom-up initiatives, including through the EOSC Academy’s Geo-Track. It will also support the rollout of coordination mechanisms and facilitate impact monitoring across the EOSC landscape.
• Enhancing coordination among INFRAEOSC projects: EOSC Gravity will promote collaboration and long-term impact by facilitating cross-project exchanges, including through cascading grants, and aligning efforts with the EOSC Association Task Forces.
• Empowering stakeholders: Dedicated activities will target research communities and decision-makers to support their involvement in the negotiation of EOSC’s post-2027 framework, including through events such as the EOSC Symposium. 

To achieve these goals, EOSC Gravity will produce a number of tangible outcomes that support its long-term mission. One of the key deliverables is a comprehensive EOSC Federation Handbook, which will define the policies, guidelines, and procedures necessary to manage the evolving EOSC ecosystem. The project will also develop practical business models to help organisations plan their participation in EOSC in a sustainable way, supporting smooth cross-border access to data and services. 

Training will also be a core project activity. EOSC Gravity will establish a dedicated EOSC Academy, offering structured learning opportunities through national and project-based tracks. This will help build a skilled community capable of driving EOSC-related activities within institutions and countries. 

As it is, the project is structured across nine interlinked Pillars, each addressing a specific dimension of the EOSC EU Node implementation – from governance and coordination, to service onboarding and outreach. Pillars 4 and 5 focus on inter-project collaboration, with dedicated working groups and two open call rounds to support joint initiatives across EOSC-related projects. Pillar 6 drives stakeholder engagement and communication through a long-term strategy, including the EOSC website, online platforms, and key events such as three EOSC Symposia and two Winter Schools. Pillars 1, 2, and 3 address technical coordination and implementation, supporting the development of the EOSC EU Node.

Our Role 

In EOSC Gravity, Trust-IT leads the project's communication, dissemination, engagement, and event activities under Pillar 6. This includes supporting content production for the EOSC.eu website, communication channels, and producing materials such as the EOSC Project Catalogues. We support and organise the EOSC Symposia and Winter Schools, the stakeholder engagement through the EOSC Forum and community platforms, and facilitate communication activities related to open calls and project outputs. Through EOSC Gravity, Trust-IT provides general communications, engagement and outreach support for the EOSC Association. 

Under Pillars 4 and 5, focused on inter-project collaboration, coordinating the HE Communication Group or its successor group with other INFRAEOSC projects, and contributing to technical and impact-related exchanges across projects. It also supports stakeholder mapping, updates the EOSC Macro-Roadmap, and helps promote outcomes through dedicated communication and engagement actions. 

In Pillar 9, Trust-IT supports overall project coordination, contributing to technical, financial, and administrative management tasks. This includes organising consortium meetings, preparing reports, and supporting EOSC Partnership governance through secretariat functions. 

With years of previous experience in managing EOSC initiatives and communication platforms, Trust-IT Services informs its contribution across all these areas.

Impact 

EOSC Gravity expects to transform how researchers and the public and private sectors create, share, and use research outputs, leading to better quality, validation, more innovation, and higher productivity of research. It aims to facilitate scientific multi-disciplinary cooperation, resulting in discoveries in basic research and solutions in key application areas. The project also anticipates seamless access to and management of increasing volumes of research data following FAIR principles, stimulating the development and uptake of innovative services. 

Ultimately, EOSC Gravity seeks to improve trust in science through increased FAIRness, openness, and quality of scientific research in Europe, supported by better monitoring and facilitators for reproducibility, validation, and re-use of research results, and improved communication of science to the public.

Funding 

EOSC Gravity has received funding under the Horizon Europe Programme under Grant Agreement 101188045.