On 20 April 2020, the European Commission, together with several partners, one of which was the University Computing Centre (SRCE), launched the European COVID-19 data platform to enable the rapid collection and exchange of available research data. The platform is part of the ERAvsCorona Action Plan, marking another milestone in EU efforts to support researchers in Europe and around the world in the fight against the epidemic.
To support the European Commission's initiative to establish a European COVID-19 data platform, the Ministry of Science and Education, in cooperation with the Croatian Science Foundation and a representative of Croatia on the EOSC Governing Board (EOSC), has started collecting information on all relevant research activities and resources that may be made available when investigating the COVID-19 pandemic and the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The European COVID-19 data platform will focus on the collection and sharing of clinical and epidemiological data sets and results in real-time with the aim of accelerating research into finding a cure for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and combating the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to data, Member States are invited to make their e-infrastructure resources available, with an emphasis on advanced computing resources. Although the platform is focused on biomedical research, we believe that other research activities exploring the social, economic and educational aspects of this COVID-19 pandemic crisis should not be overlooked at this time.
With the establishment of a global data platform, the scientific sector of the Republic of Croatia can contribute to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. In addition to globally, this platform will also be a great help to Croatian research teams, which will be able to view information on all relevant research activities and resources in one place and will be able to network their activities.
We therefore invite all Heads of Institutions from the systems of science and Heads of research teams to help meet this objective by completing a preliminary questionnaire and establishing a national record of relevant research and resources.
At the end of March, the University Computing Center (SRCE) announced the invitation of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia to scientists, scientific groups and institutions in the system of science to establish a European Data Platform. A form has been created to enter information on activities and resources that scientists and infrastructure providers can fill out.
Additional links:
- Portal
- European Commission press release
- Video message from Ursula von der Leyen
- European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) press release
Presentation: European COVID-19 Data Platform (PDF, 9,338 KB)
For more information please visit the webiste of the Ministry of Science and Education.