Call for expressions of interest to establish regional nodes of the African Open Science Platform (AOSP)

Formalized in 2020, the AOSP aims to position African scientists at the cutting edge of data intensive science by stimulating interactivity and creating opportunity through the development of efficiencies of scale, building critical mass through shared capacities, amplifying impact through a commonality of purpose and voice, and to engage in a Global Commons to address continental and global challenges through joint action.

The secretariat of the AOSP is based at the National Research Foundation (NRF) in Pretoria, South Africa, with additional financial support provided by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), and the International Science Council (ISC).

Role of the AOSP regional nodes

The purpose of the AOSP regional nodes is to support and promote efforts aligned with implementation of open science programmes at a regional level, strengthen knowledge networks and infrastructure access, and enhance cooperation between regions and globally in support of the AOSP’s vision.

Budget

The secretariat will endeavour to provide seed funding during the early stages of a node’s establishment. An indicative budget for five years should be calculated, aligned with the AOSP operation strands presented in the AOSP Strategy.

The successful institution(s) is expected to provide co-investment of approximately 25% of the total budget. Costs related to the adaptation of the hosting site (e.g., costs related to the infrastructure that will host the centre) shall not be covered by the NRF. A regional node may be co-hosted.

Eligibility criteria

• The applicant hosting entity shall include the facilities to host and operate the regional node, including adequate physical hosting facilities, an efficiently functioning research support ecosystem, and IT infrastructure.
• Consortium hosts are encouraged but thiis is not a prerequisite.
• The applicant’s institution should be a recognized research-engaged institution, such as a public university, research centre/network/institute or research council.
• Applications should include the provision of appropriate supporting documentation proving the commitment of the leadership where the hosting entity is established.
• The applicant’s institution must be based in respective RECs.
• The applicant’s institution must fall under specific organization categories as defined in AOSP Membership categories.

Proposal submission

Proposals should be submitted electronically (with the completed application form) by email to [email protected] by 15 January 2023.

For more information about the call, evaluation criteria, timeline and other details, read the full call and its annex.

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