In the rapidly evolving landscape of research and innovation, two ambitious Horizon Europe projects , CATALISI and SKILLS4EOSC, have launched a strategic collaboration to support Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in their journey towards institutional change and Open Science competences.
While focusing on different but complementary dimensions, both projects share a vision for a more open, transparent, inclusive and impactful research ecosystem.
SKILLS4EOSC: Building the Foundation of Open Science Competence
SKILLS4EOSC – Skills for the European Open Science Commons: creating a training ecosystem for Open and FAIR science, is a Horizon Europe project dedicated to empowering researchers to thrive in Open Science and navigate the complexities of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).
Key achievements of SKILLS4EOSC include:
- Harmonisation of training curricula: By employing Minimum Viable Skillsets (MVS), SKILLS4EOSC defines the core competencies for various Open Science professional profiles, ensuring consistency and quality across training offerings.
- FAIR-by-Design Methodology: This innovative approach promotes the creation of open-access, reusable training materials, fostering a sustainable and collaborative learning environment.
- e-learning platform: A robust online platform provides continued access to SKILLS4EOSC courses, democratizing Open Science education and ensuring its longevity beyond the project’s formal duration.
- Training pathways: Tailored programs are designed for trainers and researchers, enabling them to deepen their Open Science skills and, crucially, become certified “Master Trainers” through a unique “Train-the-Trainer” approach. This ensures a cascading effect of knowledge dissemination and quality assurance across Europe.
- Network of Competence Centres: The establishment of a pan-European network of Competence Centres and European research organizations is crucial for sustaining the project’s results and accelerating the adoption of Open Science and EOSC principles within a unified ecosystem.
The SKILLS4EOSC Training Programme, available on its platform (https://learning.skills4eosc.eu/), addresses areas such as evidence-informed decision-making, Open Science policy, research data management and governance (with a strong emphasis on FAIR principles), and the Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of Open Science.
CATALISI: Accelerating Institutional Transformation in Higher Education
CATALISI – Catalysation of institutional transformations of Higher Education Institutions through the adoption of acceleration services, supports HEIs in implementing tailored pathways for institutional change through the adoption of acceleration services with the ultimate aim of embracing a more sustainable research and innovation, ensuring alignment with societal challenges and European values.
CATALISI operates on two core blocks:
- Four Facilitators: APRE, EY, ENoLL, F6S provide acceleration services, knowledge transfer, and co-designed activities to support Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in their transformation journey.
- Seven Implementers: HEIs serve as demonstrators of change by implementing new reforms in specific Research and Innovation domains and intervention areas.
CATALISI’s vision is clear: universities must be beacons of innovation, prioritizing areas that generate tangible, positive impact and solve real challenges within their ecosystem. The project has identified 14 key intervention areas across three domains:
- Research careers and talent support: Including recognition of qualifications, reform of research assessment, and talent circulation.
- Research modus operandi: Emphasizing the mainstreaming of open science, digitisation of research, public engagement, and sharing of infrastructure.
- Sustainable Research and Education: Covering sustainability in education and funding, campus operations, and research itself.
To achieve these transformations, CATALISI offers a suite of innovative acceleration services:
- Living Lab: A co-creation methodology, guided by the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), for developing university innovations in real-world settings.
- Counselling: Mentoring and coaching, guided by EY, to assist HEIs with specific challenges and provide best practices.
- Transformational Pathway: Tailored agendas for each HEI, developed with EY, to achieve institutional transformation and tangible results.
- Predictive Study on Skills Anticipation: Conducted by EY, this study analyzes labor market trends to inform curriculum development and foster lifelong learning opportunities.
- Community of Practice: Led by APRE, this collaborative group facilitates knowledge exchange and mutual learning on institutional changes among academia and other quadruple helix actors.
- Capacity Building and Outreach: Also led by APRE, this service provides HEIs with essential methods and skills through peer knowledge sharing, mutual learning, and tailored webinars.
- Catalyst Hub: A digital platform, led by F6S Innovation, designed to facilitate cooperation, funding identification, and collaborations between academia and industry.
The Collaborative Landscape for Common Futures
The synergy between CATALISI and SKILLS4EOSC is evident in their shared commitment to fostering Open Science and enhancing the research landscape. While Skills4EOSC focuses on building individual and collective competence through its training programs and network of competence centers, CATALISI provides the institutional framework and acceleration services necessary for these competencies to be effectively integrated and sustained within universities.
Project synergies to empower HEIs and Open Science competencies:
- “Mainstreaming of open science and digitisation of research” intervention area within CATALISI’s directly aligns with the core mission of SKILLS4EOSC.
- The training pathways developed by SKILLS4EOSC can serve as resources for HEIs undergoing institutional transformation via CATALISI’s acceleration services.
- The “Predictive Study on Skills Anticipation” within CATALISI can leverage insights from SKILLS4EOSC’s understanding of emerging Open Science skill needs, ensuring that educational investments are strategically aligned with future demands.
- The “Community of Practice” and “Capacity Building and Outreach” services offered by CATALISI provide pathways for disseminating the expertise and resources generated by SKILLS4EOSC and promoting peer-to-peer learning across institutions.
- The “Catalyst Hub” serves as a digital space to showcase successful Open Science transformations enabled by both projects and facilitate further collaboration.
This collaboration sets a clear path toward a more open, competent, and institutionally adaptive research ecosystem. By combining training excellence with institutional transformation support, the two projects together advance a holistic model for sustainable change in HEIs.
