The European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) represents a transformative initiative aimed at creating a ‘Web of FAIR Data and Services’ by composing a unified digital environment where European researchers can access, share, and reuse research data and services across disciplinary and national boundaries. This is in stark contrast to the heterogeneous approaches (disparate National, Regional and disciplinary-specific collections of resources) that went before.

Building upon the foundations of EOSC, the EOSC Beyond project is designed to enhance the existing infrastructure by providing new EOSC Core capabilities (in particular, a network of Pilot Nodes, the Integration Suite, and the Execution Framework) to inform a more cohesive and efficient research infrastructure that serves the diverse needs of the European scientific community.

Central to the EOSC Beyond project's methodology is the deployment of Pilot Nodes, which serve as specialised testbeds for evaluating and refining the project's Core capabilities. These Pilot Nodes function as dynamic environments where new technologies, services, and integration approaches can be thoroughly tested before feeding through to the broader EOSC ecosystem. Each Pilot Node is designed to offer services that can be incorporated into workflows by other Nodes, creating a multiplying effect that amplifies the project's impact across various Scientific Use Cases.

The Consortium of European Social Science Data Archives (CESSDA) Pilot Node represents a specialised implementation within the EOSC Beyond network, designed to address the challenges and opportunities associated with Social Science data management and accessibility. 

Operating as a virtual entity, the CESSDA Pilot Node employs an innovative integration strategy that combines existing CESSDA services (CESSDA Data Catalogue, CESSDA Vocabulary Service, Data Archiving Guide, Data Management Expert Guide, European Language Social Science Thesaurus) with the newly developed capabilities of EOSC Beyond and established EOSC Core services. This hybrid approach introduces advanced functionalities that enhance data discoverability, accessibility, and interoperability across different research contexts and institutional boundaries.

The virtual nature of the CESSDA Pilot Node enables it to leverage distributed resources efficiently while presenting users with a unified interface for accessing Social Science data and related services, as well as resources made available by other Nodes in the network. This architecture supports use cases where researchers need to combine resources (data, compute, storage etc.) from multiple sources and collaborate with colleagues across different institutions and countries.

The technical implementation of the CESSDA Pilot Node involves various service components, including metadata management systems, data discovery tools, authentication and authorisation services, and analytical platforms. The integration of these components requires careful attention to detail to ensure that researchers can access and utilise resources efficiently without encountering technical barriers. In many cases, they were not designed to work together and have different interfaces, data models etc., which require adaptation and other forms of mitigation.

Significant progress has been achieved in establishing the foundational infrastructure for the CESSDA Pilot Node, including the successful integration of core CESSDA services with EOSC Beyond components (AAI, Monitoring, Helpdesk, Service Catalogue and Marketplace). Initial testing has demonstrated the viability of the virtual node architecture and validated several key technical approaches for federated data access and service discovery.

Collaboration with the broader EOSC Beyond network has facilitated knowledge sharing and accelerated the development of innovative solutions that benefit the entire research community.

As the EOSC Beyond project approaches the conclusion of its first phase in September 2025, the CESSDA Pilot Node is expected to deliver significant value to the Social Science research community. Intended outcomes include fully operational federated services and demonstrable use cases that showcase the benefits of the integrated infrastructure.

The September 2025 milestone represents a stepping stone for the continued development and expansion of Open Science capabilities within the European research landscape. The lessons learned and technologies developed through the CESSDA Pilot Node will contribute to the broader evolution of EOSC and support the ongoing digital transformation of European research infrastructure.

The CESSDA Pilot Node contributes to the innovative approach of EOSC Beyond in creating practical, user-focused solutions for complex research infrastructure challenges. Through its successful implementation and operation, it will demonstrate the potential for collaborative, technology-driven approaches to enhance Open Science practices and support the evolving needs of the European research community.