On 12 February 2026, the EOSC EU Node held its first Ask Me Anything (AMA) session for contributors, bringing together over 130 service providers, research infrastructures, candidate nodes and technical teams interested in integrating resources into the EOSC Federation. The successful session focused on practical aspects of onboarding and clarified how organisations can progress from initial interest to active contribution within the EOSC EU Node platform.
The session opened with presentations by Peter Szegedi, Policy Officer at the European Commission DG CNECT and Spiros Athanasiou, representative of the EOSC EU Node contractors. These kicked off discussions surrounding the enrolment of national and thematic nodes into the EOSC Federation and the process to onboard services into EOSC nodes. The discussions touched upon the distinction between testing and production environments, validation steps, and the respective responsibilities of contributors and the EOSC EU Node team. Participants sought clarification on how services, data sources, and catalogues can be integrated efficiently, what technical and metadata requirements apply, and how long the onboarding workflow typically takes. Attention was given to integrating catalogues and resources into the EOSC EU Node Resource Hub, ensuring visibility and discoverability within the broader Federation landscape.
Another key area of discussion concerned the Access Policy and credit allocation model, particularly the use of credits, scaling capacity, and eligibility criteria for different user groups. Participants also raised questions about the availability and reuse of EOSC EU Node open-source components, the relationship between the EOSC EU Node and other EOSC nodes, and how the current operational framework aligns with the evolving EOSC Federation governance model. Where questions extended beyond the operational remit of the EOSC EU Node, especially regarding long-term EOSC Federation financing and post-procurement governance, they were acknowledged as part of broader Federation-level discussions.
The AMA series continues to offer a transparent and interactive forum for clarifying onboarding procedures, strengthening technical alignment, and supporting contributors as the EOSC Federation enters its next phase of implementation. The high level of engagement and the depth of questions raised during the session clearly demonstrate strong interest in practical guidance and direct dialogue, confirming that similar sessions and community gatherings will remain essential in the coming months. Stay tuned!
