Research Data and Artificial Intelligence: Brno hosts international conference on the future of open science

On 21 and 22 May 2025, the international conference Research Data Day & EOSC National Tripartite Event took place in Brno, attracting more than 200 participants from 40 institutions across Europe. The two-day programme offered lectures, panel discussions and workshops focused on research data, artificial intelligence and the role of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) initiative in the development of open science.

The conference highlighted the crucial importance of a quality data infrastructure for current and future research. Particular attention was paid to the topic of "data ready for AI" - i.e. how to prepare research data for use in AI systems in accordance with FAIR principles. The discussion also focused on the strategy for the future direction of EOSC, the sustainability of the infrastructure and the transferability of the Czech coordination model to the European level.

A number of experts from the Czech and international environment spoke - for example Jana Klánová (RECETOX, MU), Jan Hajič (Charles University), Vladimír Ulman (IT4Innovations, MU), and Stefan Voigt (Open Search Foundation). Topics ranged from digital pathology and drug development to the design of new materials or challenges in the humanities and social sciences.

The program also included practical lectures on FAIR principles, available tools and software for research data management. There was also a private meeting of partners of the National Repository Platform, which is a key tool for managing and sharing research data in the Czech Republic. The event confirmed the growing importance of research data and open science and showed that the Czech Republic is perceived as an active and respected partner within the European EOSC initiative with a working model linking policy, infrastructure and research communities.

CESNET and EOSC CZ: collaboration on the development of a national data infrastructure
CESNET is actively involved in the development of the EOSC CZ initiative and is working towards the creation of a National Repository Platform - a key infrastructure for managing, storing and sharing research data in the Czech Republic in accordance with the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). 

This is why CESNET supports events such as Research Data Day, which help to connect expert communities and share best practices in the field of research data, open science and AI.

The full agenda, video and presentations from the conference can be found here: www.eosc.cz/en/news-and-events/events-calendar/national-tripartite-event-cz-25