Data stewards, skills and training for Open Science and FAIR practices

The grant opportunity, specified under HORIZON-INFRA-2025-01-EOSC-04, focuses on enhancing Open Science and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data practices through the training of data stewards. This initiative falls within the Horizon Europe framework and aims to promote a more robust culture of Open Science by addressing existing skill gaps and the professionalization of data stewardship.

Eligible applicants include single legal entities such as universities, research institutes, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly from Widening Countries in the EU, as well as other organizations based in EU member states and associated countries. This grant is categorized as a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, specifically a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), which indicates a solely monetary funding model for successful applications.

A key point of this grant opportunity is that it does not require a consortium; instead, it is open for individual submissions from single beneficiaries. The geographic eligibility focuses primarily on the EU and associated countries, with no specific countries listed beyond these broad categories.

The primary target sector is related to research data management, Open Science infrastructures, and digital skills development across various scientific disciplines. The expected funding amount ranges from €0.30 million to €0.50 million per project, which is comparatively smaller than other EOSC infrastructure grants that can reach up to €61 million. Applications must be submitted by the deadline of September 18, 2025, as part of a single-stage open call process.

Successful projects are anticipated to deliver multiple outcomes, including the establishment of consistent curricula for data stewards, enhancing their skills, and fostering the development of competence networks throughout Europe. These initiatives will not only support the integration of Open Science but also aim to create a sustainable model for coordination within the EOSC framework.

Application guidelines emphasize that proposals should align with the European Competence Framework for Researchers and should promote synergy with existing initiatives like the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment. The grant does not mandate co-funding, simplifying the funding process for applicants.

In conclusion, this grant represents a critical opportunity to advance Open Science practices by developing essential skills among data stewards and enhancing collaborative efforts across the EU research landscape, with a focus on preparing for the operationalization of the European Open Science Cloud.

This is a summary of the EU grant opportunity HORIZON-INFRA-2025-01-EOSC-04, focusing on data stewards, skills, and training for Open Science and FAIR practices within the Horizon Europe program.

The call falls under the Research Infrastructures 2025 initiative (HORIZON-INFRA-2025-01) and seeks to fund HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) using the HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] model grant agreement.

The call is currently open for submission with a single-stage deadline model. The opening date was May 6, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is September 18, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of funded projects include:

Definition of consistent core curricula for data stewards throughout Europe, fostering the adoption of Open Science and FAIR principles.
Enhanced data steward skills, enhancing their ability to manage and interpret complex data.
Advancement of Open Science education throughout all research career stages.
Creation and standardisation of open science curricula tailored to researchers at all career stages, promoting consistency and collaboration in Open Science practices.
Expansion and strengthening of existing competence networks, broadening their scope across countries and disciplines and improving their readiness to support the uptake of Open Science and of EOSC.
Development of a sustainable coordination network model to support synergies and continued growth.
Mainstreaming transparent, aligned, and interoperable Open Science practices and promoting efficiency and trustworthiness in the management of FAIR digital objects.

The scope of the call addresses the need for dedicated, professional data curation and data management profiles to support Open Science practices and the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). It aims to address the lack of well-defined career paths for data stewards and the incomplete mainstreaming of data sharing and Open Science practices. The objective is to foster a stronger culture of Open Science by addressing gaps in the professionalization of data stewards and the acquisition/recognition of open science and data management skills. This involves identifying consistent core curricula for data stewards and further developing/coordinating competence centers at the European level.

The call outlines several activities that proposals are expected to cover:

Coordinating European-level actions to make data steward curricula management consistent and to propose mechanisms to monitor their suitability and possible evolution.
Enhancing data steward and researcher curricula with Open Science and FAIR practices, ensuring adaptability at the different contexts, levels and scientific domains of applicability.
Addressing diverse data steward levels, including support staff and researchers.
Collaborating with existing competence centres to foster Open Science and FAIR networks.
Leveraging national networks and related institutional initiatives for European-level coordination.
Launching outreach programs targeting early-career researchers and less-structured communities.
Offering support to countries and institutions that are underrepresented and bolstering national competence centre networks.

Proposals should align with the European Competence Framework for Researchers (ResearchComp) and the revised Charter for Researchers, emphasizing Open Science competences and practices. Synergies with the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) are encouraged. Cooperation and alignment with the EOSC Partnership, Skills4EOSC, and FAIR-IMPACT projects are expected, particularly with projects funded under HORIZON-INFRA-2025-01-EOSC-02. Interaction with the operators of the EOSC Federation is also required to ensure alignment with EOSC policies and practices.

General conditions for participation include:

Admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.
Eligible countries as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, noting that some non-EU/non-Associated Countries have specific provisions for funding.
Other eligible conditions as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds as described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Submission and evaluation processes, with additions to the general award criteria considering coordination efforts with other projects and the EOSC governance structure, as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Legal and financial setup, including additional access rights for the EOSC Association, data deposition requirements in trusted EOSC repositories, and the possibility to provide financial support to third parties (up to EUR 60,000 per party).
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms, as well as the model grant agreement (MGA), are available in the Submission System. Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, various MGAs (HE MGA, HE Unit MGA, Lump Sum MGA, Operating Grants MGA, Framework Partnership Agreement FPA), and call-specific instructions. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2025, HE Programme Guide, EU Financial Regulation, and other guidelines related to legal entity validation, financial capacity assessment, and the Funding & Tenders Portal.

The budget overview indicates that the HORIZON-INFRA-2025-01-EOSC-04 topic has a budget of EUR 8,000,000 for the year 2025. It is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (CSA) with a single-stage submission process. The opening date is May 6, 2025, and the deadline is September 18, 2025. The expected contribution per project ranges from EUR 5,000,000 to EUR 8,000,000, and it is anticipated that one grant will be awarded.

There are partner search announcements available for this call, and potential applicants can use the Funding & Tenders Portal to find partners.

In summary, this grant opportunity aims to enhance Open Science practices by professionalizing data stewards, improving data management skills, and fostering collaboration through competence centers, with a focus on aligning with the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) framework. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and successful projects are expected to contribute to the definition of consistent curricula, enhance data steward skills, and promote transparent Open Science practices. The call is a single-stage HORIZON Coordination and Support Action with a deadline of September 18, 2025.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, based on the nature of Horizon Europe calls, eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other legal entities capable of conducting research and innovation activities. The call is open for submission, which implies a wide range of eligible applicants.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the type of action HORIZON-CSA (Coordination and Support Actions) and HORIZON-RIA (Research and Innovation Actions) and the type of MGA (Model Grant Agreement) HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum. Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants, with a maximum amount of EUR 60 000 to each third party.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, given the scope and objectives of the call, which involve coordinating actions at the European level and collaborating with existing competence centers, it is highly likely that a consortium of multiple applicants is preferred or even required to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is primarily focused on EU member states and associated countries, as indicated by the reference to Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, which outlines eligible countries. The mention of non-EU/non-Associated Countries with specific provisions suggests that participation from these countries is possible under certain conditions, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is research infrastructures, specifically those related to Open Science, FAIR data practices, and the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). This includes areas such as data curation, data management, open science education, competence center development, and research assessment.

Mentioned Countries: The text mentions "non-EU/non-Associated Countries" in the context of eligibility for funding, but does not list specific countries. The relevant region is therefore the EU and associated countries, with potential participation from other countries as outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Project Stage: The project stage is primarily focused on coordination and support actions (CSA) and research and innovation actions (RIA). This suggests that the projects should be at the development, validation, or demonstration stage, with a focus on enhancing existing initiatives and fostering collaboration and standardization.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, as detailed in the Budget overview. The contributions range from EUR 1 000 000 to EUR 15 000 000 for Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) and from EUR 3 000 000 to EUR 15 000 000 or "around" EUR 5 000 000 to EUR 10 000 000 for Research and Innovation Actions (RIA).

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by the "Open For Submission" status and the single-stage deadline model.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant. Additionally, beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants up to EUR 60 000 per third party.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage, meaning that applicants submit a full proposal by the deadline.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the text. However, the "Indicative number of grants" provides some insight into the expected number of funded projects for each topic, which can be used to estimate the potential success rate based on the number of applications received.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. However, as the eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum, it is possible that the funding will cover 100% of the eligible costs, but this needs to be verified in the specific call documents.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Data stewards, skills and training for Open Science and FAIR practices," aims to foster a stronger culture of Open Science by addressing gaps in the professionalization of data stewards and the acquisition of open science and data management skills. It seeks to define consistent core curricula for data stewards, enhance researcher skills in Open Science and FAIR practices, and strengthen competence networks at the European level. The call is structured around Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) and Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), with funding ranging from EUR 1 000 000 to EUR 15 000 000 depending on the action type. Eligible applicants include universities, research institutes, SMEs, and other legal entities from EU member states and associated countries, with potential participation from non-EU/non-associated countries under specific provisions. The application process is single-stage, with a deadline of 18 September 2025. Successful projects will contribute to the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) by promoting transparent, aligned, and interoperable Open Science practices and improving the management of FAIR digital objects. The funding will be provided as a lump sum grant, and beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants up to EUR 60 000 per third party.