Introduction

The OSCARS initiative aims to support the research communities in adopting open science practices and fostering the involvement of scientists in the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). This call is designed to select third parties for the development of innovative Open Science projects or services that drive the uptake of FAIR-data-intensive research throughout the European Research Area (ERA).

General Description: This call focuses on funding projects that:

• Exploit or foster the adoption of FAIR data.
• Strengthen FAIR competences, practices, and technologies.
• Leverage and/or exploit the Science Clusters' services aimed at demonstrating and piloting the use of EOSC resources.
• Can be cross-RI and/or cross-domain with high societal relevance.

Objectives:

• Enhance the involvement of researchers in Open Science.
• Demonstrate the role of Science Clusters as thematic nodes for "Open Research" in Europe.
• Support projects that contribute to the FAIR management of scientific results and associated digital objects.

Call summary:

• Total funding:~€16.4 million EUR
• Funding per project:Between €100,000 to €250,000 (lump sum)
• Potential maximum of funded projects:~160
• Target user communities:Science Clusters, wider community (RIs, Universities, Institutes, either consortia, or individual researchers) and beyond
• Open calls launch:1st call ¿ March 2024;2nd call ¿ November 2024. Both calls will stay open for 60 days.
• Time for projects¿ implementation:12-to-24 months (after signature of a Third-Party Project Agreement ¿ TPPA)
• Start of the projects:Within 4 months from TPPA signature (to give organisations time to hire staff if needed

Deadline

** The deadline to apply (14/05/2025) is an estimate based on last year. At the moment there is not an official deadline in 2025

Who is eligible?

Research Infrastructures, Universities, Institutes, SMEs and large companies, consortia as well as individual researchers.

Individual researchers, or a group of researchers, in different countries of the EU, Associated Countries and beyond can apply with their own affiliation (a university or a research institute). A Science Cluster by itself cannot apply.

Eligibility to access EU funding will be assessed. Note that third parties receiving financial support are not subject to the rules on eligibility for funding provided in Article 23 of the HE Regulation. At the same time, we draw your attention to 13. General Annexes to the Work Programme 2023-2024, p. 8, which excludes entities subject to EU restrictive measures as well as legal entities established in Russia, Belarus, or in non-government controlled territories of Ukraine from receiving financial support to third parties.

In case of interest, please click on "m'interessa" and we will contact you.