ESFRI-EOSC Policy Workshop on "FAIR Data Productivity and Advanced Digitalization"

The ESFRI-EOSC Task Force is set to host a Policy Workshop on FAIR Data Productivity and Advanced Digitalization in Milan, Italy, from January 23-24, 2024. This gathering aims to address critical aspects of research data management and the utilisation of artificial intelligence (AI) in scientific domains.

The primary objective of the policy workshop is to delve into the current state of FAIR data (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) productivity, particularly in terms of quality assessment and technical advancements that enable seamless data utilisation for both human and machine-driven research applications. Furthermore, the workshop will explore the burgeoning impact of AI in research, particularly in conjunction with FAIR data. This exploration will encompass discussions on AI algorithm training and FAIRification techniques, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of the synergistic potential between these two fields.

Experts from ESFRI Research Infrastructures (RIs) and European AI projects will lead engaging talks and roundtable discussions during this policy workshop. Representatives from the ESFRI-EOSC Task Force, the EOSC Steering Board, the European Commission's Research and Innovation Department (DG-RTD) and Digital Technologies and Communications Networks Department (DG-CNECT), the EOSC-Association Board, ESFRI RIs, and ESFRI SWGs are expected to attend.

Organised by the ESFRI-EOSC Task Force and supported by the StR-ESFRI3 project, this policy workshop promises to be a pivotal event in the advancement of FAIR data practices and the integration of AI into the research landscape. By tackling the bottlenecks in FAIR data productivity and exploring the transformative potential of AI, this workshop will pave the way for a more efficient, accessible, and impactful research environment.

Blue-Cloud at the event

Blue-Cloud2026 and iMAGINE's Dick Schaap participated in the 1st Round Table on FAIR data and quality control. Dick Schaap gave a short introduction on the European Marine and Ocean Data landscape, on the gradual development of 'bottom-up' Research Infrastructures (RIs) such as SeaDataNet, Euro-Argo, EMSO, supported by ESFRI and DG RTD, and later EU 'top-down' initiatives EMODnet (DG MARE) and Copernicus Marine (DG DEFIS) through which Europe has established a major capacity for FAIR marine data management. 

He explained how the objectives of EOSC for Open Science and improved FAIRness of data have been successfully embraced by the marine research community by the Blue-Cloud pilot and successive Blue-Cloud 2026 projects, which brought together multiple RIs, EMODnet and Copernicus Marine for developing federated Data Discovery and Access, supporting strengthening of FAIR and machine-actionable services at RIs, and exploiting and further expanding a Blue-Cloud Virtual Research Environment for multidisciplinary analytical pipelines using VLabs.

This Blue-Cloud development and uptake of cloud-supported virtual research is very instrumental for the development and deployment of the Green Deal initiative for establishing Digital Twins of the Oceans (DTO) which requires even more data availability, analytical pipelines, uptake of Artificial Intelligence, and visualisation techniques. 

Official webpage