Greater Visibility, Interoperability, and Coordination for Lithuanian Research Data
The Research Council of Lithuania (RCL) has prepared the feasibility study “Necessary Changes and Investment Directions for Lithuania’s Integration into the European Open Science Cloud”, which assesses the current state of Lithuania’s research data ecosystem, institutional preparedness, infrastructure and competency needs, as well as possible scenarios for Lithuania’s integration into the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). The study revealed that research data generated in Lithuania remain fragmented at the national level, inconsistently described, and difficult to discover and reuse.
The feasibility study was based on a large-scale analysis covering four interconnected areas: the assessment of the Lithuanian research data ecosystem, evaluation of institutional preparedness and needs, analysis of researchers’ data management practices, and modelling of possible alternatives for Lithuania’s integration into EOSC. The research included the analysis of extensive datasets, strategic, legal, and technological documents, survey data from institutions and researchers, results of focus group discussions, and the development of an analytical map of Lithuania’s research data ecosystem. The study was conducted by a highly qualified team of experts bringing together competencies in open science, research data governance, infrastructures, technologies, law, economic evaluation, and public policy analysis.
The study raises one of the key challenges of modern science policy: the state cannot strategically manage and activate what it cannot see. Research data in Lithuania are created in universities, research institutes, projects, laboratories, research infrastructures, institutional and thematic repositories, yet at the national level they often remain fragmented — described differently, stored inconsistently, not always openly accessible, and difficult to find beyond the boundaries of the original project or institution.
The analysis identified a lack of consistent accounting and monitoring of research data in Lithuania, making it difficult at the national level to accurately assess what data already exist, where they are stored, under what conditions they may be reused, and what resources are required for their long-term preservation. Costs related to data storage, management, and maintenance are often not distinguished as a separate funding category within institutions and are instead distributed across broader IT, infrastructure, project implementation, or administrative expenditure lines.
A Federated National EOSC-LT Node Proposed as a Key Solution
One of the main recommendations of the study is the creation of a federated national EOSC-LT node that would enable Lithuania to systematically integrate into the European Open Science Cloud while strengthening the national research data ecosystem.
The proposed model is based on the principle of a federated national research data ecosystem: data would remain in their original locations — institutions, thematic repositories, research infrastructures, or other systems — while a common national layer for metadata, search, and interoperability would be established. Such a solution would make it possible to identify what research data have already been created in Lithuania, where they are stored, how they are described, and under what conditions they could be reused.
At the core of this architecture would be EOSC-LT-Core — a national metadata catalogue for research data and Lithuania’s integration point into the European EOSC federation. It would perform functions related to metadata aggregation, cataloguing, interoperability coordination, and the provision of shared services, thereby creating the foundation for more consistent monitoring, discoverability, and reuse of research data.
Investments Needed Not Only in Technology, but Also in People
The implementation of the national EOSC-LT node is estimated to require investments exceeding EUR 9 million. These investments would cover the development of the EOSC-LT-Core infrastructure, the establishment of a national-level coordinating structure, the creation of a federated network, integration with institutional and thematic units, metadata mapping solutions, data description and interoperability activities, as well as the establishment of a system and network of data stewards.
The analysis demonstrated that Lithuania’s integration into EOSC should not be viewed solely as a technological project. One of the most important prerequisites for preparedness is the availability of human resources and competencies.
For this reason, particular attention is devoted to the development of a network of data stewards. These specialists would support researchers in planning, describing, managing, storing, opening, and reusing research data in accordance with FAIR principles. They would also contribute to ensuring metadata quality, applying standards, preparing data management plans, strengthening legal and organizational interoperability, and developing institutional data management practices.
Financial calculations included in the study estimate that the long-term need for data stewards within Lithuanian higher education and research institutions and research infrastructures could reach up to 160 FTEs, depending on the growth in data volumes.
The Way Forward
The feasibility study concludes that the establishment of a national EOSC node would generate the greatest added value for Lithuania, as it best balances national interests, interoperability with EOSC, institutional sustainability, and practical implementability. The preferred scenario is the development of the national EOSC-LT node as a state information system, which would institutionalize the solution as a long-term digital infrastructure of national importance.
The final decision regarding the selected implementation model and scenario will be made by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania. The agreement for the second phase of the project is expected to be signed by the end of 2026.
The RCL invites research and higher education institutions, representatives of research infrastructures, researchers, data management specialists, and other interested stakeholders to ознакомиться with the feasibility study and its recommendations.
The feasibility study is available here.
For questions or comments regarding the results of the feasibility study and the recommendations provided, please contact Gerinta Raguckė, Chief Policy (Research) Analyst at the RCL Research and Higher Education Policy Analysis Division and project manager, via email at [email protected] or by phone at +370 676 45 756.
The project is being implemented under the progress measure No. 12-001-01-01-01 “Improve the Research and Higher Education Environment” (activity “Integration into the European Open Science Cloud”) of the Science Development Programme of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania, project code: 10-073-P-0001. The activity is funded by the European Union Funds for 2021–2027 and the budget of the Republic of Lithuania. The project title is “Integration into the European Open Science Cloud – Feasibility Study on Necessary Changes and Investment Directions”.