Optimising (RDA) Open Science Frameworks and Guidelines in the context of EOSC – Round 2

Successful applications should consider existing recommendations and whether further documentation is needed, for example:  Is the guidance up to date, and ready  for operationalisation; what communities can be involved to update it; are they aligned to new emerging standards, global or European; how do these work in a specific disciplinary context. The aim is to leverage on community resources and review the existing processes for implementation.

The following outcomes should be considered in successful applications: 

• Analysis of existing RDA technical documentation and if it is fit for purpose, where it can be optimised in the context of EOSC.
• RDA Recommendations: promoting existing recommendations within a disciplinary community with the aim of data sharing in a federated system such as EOSC, for example integration into horizontal or disciplinary infrastructures and interfaces and implementation scenarios for the EOSC federating core.
• Translating a RDA recommendation into a technical document or a manual and set out how future communities can use it.
• Facilitating a workshop to discuss and compare EOSC Future technical components in an international context.
• Technical solutions or design studies demonstrating the suitability of the EOSC catalogue and marketplace for the long-tail of research data.
• Global approaches including the RDA’s Global Open Research Commons initiative.

This programme is designed to support the engagement of disciplinary groups and take up of services. RDA welcomes applications from people or groups who are committed to RDA, FAIR-ification of data. These can be junior/senior researchers, mid-career data professionals, and data scientists. They can be based in research groups or institutions, or SMEs across Europe, provided they meet the criteria below. Each grant will be awarded for 12,500€ and a total of 2 grants with this focus will be awarded. Work has to be completed by September 2023, the end of the EOSC Future project.

The project proposals will need to be submitted by using “apply now” on this EOSC Future Funding platform. You will  have to describe your project plan, coals, milestones and intended impact in some detail. A consortium consisting of several organisations can apply, but a single legal needs to act as a contractual partner.

You need to submit your application by 20/2/2023 at 16:00.

RDA welcomes applications from people or groups who are committed to RDA, sharing of data, and FAIR-ification^[1] of data. These can be junior/senior researchers, mid-career data professionals, and data scientists and anyone working on national or community interoperability guidelines. They can be based in research groups or institutions, or SMEs across Europe, provided they meet the criteria below.

[1] FAIRification comprises of 15 guiding principles outlined by Wilkinson et al (2016) which are aimed at enhancing the findability, accessibility, interoperability and reusability of data. It is a way of connecting and harnessing the power of data being generated to maximize its utility.21 Nov 2022 (Wikipedia)

Criteria and conditions

• Applicants should demonstrate that they have been or are currently involved in RDA as an active member, participant, chair or contributor to a WG or IG especially in the last 12-18 months.
• Be proactive and willing to contribute to RDA recommendations or outputs testing and adoption particularly in European institutions.
• Have a good understanding of EOSC, the FAIR movement.
• Reside and/or work in a EU country or associate countries.

Further conditions

• This call is not open to members of the EOSC Future consortium. Staff working on the EOSC Future project (i.e. directly funded through a beneficiary (its department or unit executing EOSC Future activities), as a LTP or seconded personnel) are not eligible to apply for grants under the RDA Open Calls and will be asked to tick a Declaration of Honour box upon application.
• Applicants must declare in the application form they do not receive from other European Union project for similar activities. If you are unsure, please contact us.
• If the evaluator’s institution applies for an RDA Open Call, the evaluator should declare their conflict of interest in reviewing the application.
• All successful applicants will have to provide a plan for a sound dissemination of the outputs created, openly licensed as per RDA’s recommendations that outputs are licensed as CC-BY or CC0. A mid-term and final term report will be submitted, following a contractual agreement, highlighting progress, use cases and lessons learned.
• All results will be made available on the RDA site for 4 years. Successful applicants may be asked to share their details (photo, bio) for dissemination purposes.
• The work will need to be completed within 3 months within receipt of award.

How your application will be evaluated: These are the criteria and weighting

Your proposal will take into account the RDA Guiding principles and demonstrate commitment to it. Proposals should drive the principles of openness and community activities.

Candidates will be asked to submit an application that will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

1. Excellence: 
   • A statement describing the commitment to the vision of EOSC, the FAIR movement, national Open Science agendas (implementation), links to European data infrastructures or similar federated infrastructures. (25%)
   • A brief summary of previous and current activities demonstrating the applicant’s involvement and contributions to RDA related activities, Working/Interest Groups, development and/or promotion and/or adoption of RDA Recommendations and Outputs in European Institutions. (25%)
2. Impact: Sustainability and impact potential of the proposal and how this can be carried forward within the context of EOSC and RDA. Applicants should put forward plans for continuing the work beyond the funding period.  (25%)
3. Implementation (quality and efficiency): 
   • A summary of the proposed existing framework, how it is relevant to RDA. Outline the scenario for optimisation and update, the relationship to and impact on EOSC, and how an accompanying technical update can be created. Methodology of application. The proposal must be thought through, well-written, clear and demonstrate the methodology works (25%) 

Evaluators:

The applications will be evaluated by experts with insights to the RDA and group recommendations who have no conflict of interest (the applicant is not employed by the evaluator’s organisation nor is/are the recommendation(s) a direct result of their work).

Word limit for applications

The word limit for your application will be via fields in a form each with a specific word limit. You can start with an application and save it in the system to return to it later. You are allowed to upload accompanying documentation, e.g., project plan and methodology.