Baltic TRAM (Transnational Research Access in the Macroregion) is a transnational project which seeks to strengthen the relationship between analytical research institutions and business. Baltic TRAM offers analytical research expertise to concrete industrial needs, thus promoting long-term sustainable interaction between the research and business communities. The overall objective is to boost innovation, through enhanced implementation of smart specialisation strategies, improved productivity, encouragement towards more competitive entrepreneurship tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises. Thus, Baltic TRAM supports the Baltic Sea Region´s innovative and sustainable development, as well as international competitiveness. These aspirations are inseparable from Baltic TRAM´s dedication to the European Open Science Cloud and a common culture of data stewardship.Baltic TRAM network, as a macro-regional partnership committed to advancing the European open science, is delighted to present its perspective on the European Open Science Cloud Declaration not solely by sharing Baltic TRAM partnership’s agreed Letter of Intent but also confirming readiness to provide inputs during the upcoming stakeholder forums.

Baltic TRAM is a strong contributor to open science in the Baltic Sea Region due to several aspects. Firstly, its structured approach in promoting open access to its generated data and its anchorage in the European institutional set-up of open science (showcased by its adherence to EUDAT) must be pointed out. Thus, Baltic TRAM demonstrated its contribution to the position that the “European and national scientific research organisations, publishers and other actors must align their data-related business processes, responsibilities and expectations to achieve commonly agreed goals”. The most insightful and detailed resource in this respect is the Baltic TRAM “Activity 5.3 e-infrastructure and open data pilot” document, which serves as project´s evolving data management plan. In case the European Commission would be interested, the document would be provided by the Baltic TRAM open data coordinator Kainuun Etu Oy.

Secondly, the novelty of Baltic TRAM´s approach to open access is also founded on the rich policy analysis captured in the Baltic TRAM Letter of Intent, since it refers to a number of European initiatives and fora which over the last years have contributed to the evolution of open science thinking. Similarly, Baltic TRAM has sought after not only the European guidelines, but also its findings will nurture the Baltic Sea Region-wide governance structured according to the CBSS Baltic 2030 Action Plan, which was endorsed last summer by the Foreign Ministers and high-level representatives of the CBSS as an important step in the implementation of Agenda 2030, and EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.

Thirdly, Baltic TRAM overview of the first business enquiries showcases the variety of research disciplines covered by the project´s science-business cooperation model and the future open data access repository. Therefore, Baltic TRAM´s analysis of its applied open data practices, which will be presented to the wider audiences during the first half of 2019, could potentially be of relevance to the evolution of the EOSC common reference scheme for a variety of specific thematic areas.

To conclude, Baltic TRAM´s contribution to the call for support for the EOSC Declaration showcases the project´s recognition that “a long-term, sustainable research infrastructure in Europe requires a strong and flexible governance model based on trust and increasing mutuality”. Baltic TRAM is honoured to advance transnationally such ties in the science – business collaboration.

The enclosed Letter of Content entails the main body of text without the Annex which comprises of a full list of project partners´ signatures.

TRAM_letter_of_intent_main_part_23.10.2017.pdf
Letter of Intent
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