Europe launches 13 research hubs to expand access to scientific data

Researchers across Europe can now more easily discover, access and reuse research data and digital services as the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) Federation begins expanding its network with the launch of 13 operational research hubs.

Known as EOSC Nodes, the hubs bring together resources from different research organisations, enabling scientists to collaborate across national borders and scientific disciplines. Their launch marks the first expansion of the Federation beyond the existing EOSC EU Node.

The 13 hubs are part of a wider network of 27 Nodes scheduled to join the Federation in two waves spanning 2025 and 2026. More hubs are expected to become operational as the initiative develops, strengthening Europe's shared research infrastructure.

The operational launch was a key focus of the EOSC Symposium 2026, which concluded in Florence on October 16. The event brought together researchers, digital service providers, policymakers, funding bodies and other stakeholders to explore how the Federation can make scientific resources more accessible and research collaboration more effective.

Practical demonstrations at the Symposium highlighted the potential of the Federation to support research across diverse fields, including healthcare, food, physical sciences, engineering, environmental studies and the humanities.

The discussions also emphasised the importance of involving researchers in shaping the network's future. Through the EOSC User Forum, scientists will be able to share their needs, experiences and feedback, helping ensure that the services offered by the Federation respond to the practical demands of research communities.

Beyond connecting research organisations, the Federation is working to strengthen links with Europe's broader digital and scientific infrastructure. These include European Data Spaces, the EuroHPC Federation Platform and major research infrastructures.

Such connections could help researchers combine data and digital services from multiple sources, opening up new opportunities for cross-border projects and interdisciplinary research.

The initiative also supports Europe's ambitions to advance artificial intelligence in science by improving access to high-quality research data that machines can process and use, alongside computing resources. These capabilities can help researchers make better use of AI-driven tools and accelerate scientific discovery.

However, as the network expands, maintaining trust, security, data protection and long-term sustainability remains essential to its success.

The next phase will focus on bringing additional EOSC Nodes, research resources and capabilities into the Federation. The expansion is expected to strengthen the shared research environment and make it easier for Europe's scientific community to collaborate, exchange knowledge and build on research conducted elsewhere.

Building a shared research environment across Europe

The European Open Science Cloud aims to create a trusted, open environment where researchers can access, share and reuse scientific data, tools and digital services across Europe.

The EOSC Federation connects 27 national, thematic and e-infrastructure Nodes and their resources through common federating capabilities and interoperable services. The EOSC EU Node remains a key part of this emerging ecosystem, providing research services and resources while supporting the development of the wider network.

The EOSC Symposium 2026 was held in Florence recently. Organised by the EOSC Association with support from the EOSC Gravity project, the event focused on collaboration and future opportunities, best practices and user experience, and the operational development of the EOSC Federation.