RIECS-Concept advances the first citizen science node within the EOSC
📢 Ibercivis coordinates EOSC-CSN, an initiative that will establish the governance framework and technical architecture to integrate citizen science communities into the European Open Science Cloud❗
✅ Funded under the Horizon Europe framework, this initiative is set to design the very first thematic citizen science node within the EOSC Federation that currently connects scientific institutions across more than 40 European countries.
With a budget of €50,000 over six months under the EOSC Gravity Preparatory Grants scheme, the consortium is completed by the Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Citizen Science Italia and the University of Leiden (representing Citizen Science Nederland).
✅EOSC-CSN materialises the work initiated through RIECS-Concept and marks a major milestone for the development of the first European node designed to open the EOSC to citizen science communities.
Breaking Barriers for Citizen Science
✅ Currently, the EOSC Federation relies heavily on academic credentials (EduGAIN) to grant access to its resources. While this works for institutional researchers, it inadvertently excludes thousands of citizen scientists, NGOs, and participatory communities that generate high-value scientific data all over Europe.
✅ EOSC-CSN addresses this structural barrier head-on. The project aims to design:
⚫ A multi-level governance model.
⚫ AARC-compliant identity proxies to allow non-academic access.
⚫ FAIR validation tooling specifically tailored to community-led research.
✅ The primary outcome of this six-month phase will be the Node’s Project Charter – the foundational document establishing the technical and operational roadmap toward a permanent European Research Infrastructure (ESFRI/ERIC).
✅ This effort is already backed by letters of intent from the science ministries of Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands.
A ‘Design-by-Validation’ Approach
✅ To ensure the architecture is robust and aligned with community needs, the project follows a strict validation methodology:
⚫ Community Leaders: A panel of 15 leaders will functionally test the proposed solutions.
⚫ Expert Group: A team of 10-15 specialists will provide rigorous peer review regarding governance, technical, and legal compliance with EOSC standards.
Open Call: Join the EOSC-CSN Expert Group
✅ In parallel with the launch, the project has opened a public call for expressions of interest to form the Expert Group.
✅ If you are a European specialist in any of the following fields, your expertise is needed:
⚫ Citizen science platforms and networks.
⚫ EOSC and FAIR data management.
⚫ Participatory research and sustainability models.
⚫ Research infrastructure governance, legal, and ethical aspects.
⚫ Interoperability and metadata.
What does participation involve?
✅ Time commitment: 2-3 online meetings (approx. 90 minutes each) between June and August 2026, plus document review (approx. 1-2 working days).
📌 Compensation: Selected experts will receive a fee of €300 for their contribution.
📌 Note: University or institutional affiliation is NOT required.
✅ How to apply (Deadline: 16 June 2026)
Send an email to info@ibercivis.es with the subject line ‘EoI: EOSC-CSN Expert Group’ including:
⚫ Name, affiliation, and country.
⚫ Half a page summarising your relevant experience.
⚫ Your specific area(s) of contribution.
⚫ One concrete idea you think the EOSC-CSN should address.
🔗 For full details, visit eosc.riecs.eu.
About EOSC-CSN
✨ EOSC-CSN (Sub-Grant Agreement EOSCGravity-PREP-2026-027-EOSC-CSN) is funded under EOSC Gravity (GA 101188045) by the European Union, running from May to November 2026. Views expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the EU or the European Commission. It is developed in line with the RIECS-Concept initiative ✨
🔗 More information: eosc.riecs.eu | eosc.eu/horizon-europe-projects/eosc-csn
Published 2026-06-12