Implementation Roadmap for the European Open Science Cloud

Abstract

The Commission adopted on 14 March 2018 the Implementation Roadmap for the European Science Cloud. Overall, the document presents the results and available evidence from an extensive and conclusive consultation process that started with the publication of the Communication: European Cloud initiative (COM(2016)178) in April 2016.

The consultation upheld the intervention logic presented in the Communication, to create a fit for purpose pan-European federation of research data infrastructures, with a view to moving from the current fragmentation to a situation where data is easy to store, find, share and re-use. On the basis of the consultation, the implementation Roadmap gives and overview of six actions lines for the implementation of the EOSC: a) architecture, b) data, c) services, d) access & interfaces, e) rules and f) governance.

Specifically regarding the latter, the Roadmap presents a governance framework and a governance structure that emerged from the consultation, as a basis for further discussion with Member States. This was foreseen explicitly by the Communication. The roadmap describes the measures taken under Horizon 2020 Work Programmes to start implementing the EOSC. The financing of the EOSC is secured until 2020 through the Horizon 2020 Work Programme (including €300 million to support the development of the EOSC federating core and open FAIR data pilot), and based on the additional commitments of stakeholders responding to the EOSC Summit Declaration.

The document also specifies the link to the European Data Infrastructure, underpinning high-capacity cloud solutions with super-computing capacity, as well as widening the EOSC by gradually opening up its user base to the public sector and industry.

Overall, the document will serve as a basis for further consultation with Member States, the European Parliament and other relevant stakeholders on the next steps to take.

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