NeIC 2022 conference/NeIC2022 PC meeting 2021-08-24

Note: This is an internal working document for the NeIC 2022 Program Committee (PC). In order to avoid causing confusion and misinterpretation, it is not to be shared outside of NeIC without the consent of the PC. Note: This document is editable by anyone who has the link, so use judgement when sharing.

Location: Zoom, https://cscfi.zoom.us/j/9917669499?pwd=enpXNnVNWGdWbnc4K0xRR3lFaHJtdz09

Live minutes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hYKKkgoNdYAWewJO9akeN7w6lqCEiwJg-LCBWCv5sXY/edit?usp=sharing

Invited:

• Sven Stafström, Swedish Research Council, SE
• Hanne Monclair, Ministry of Education and Research, NO
• Jonas Waller, Nordic Council of Ministers, Åland Islands
• Kimmo Koski, CSC, FI
• Kristina Lillemets, University of Tartu/GEANT, EE -> stand-in: Ivar Koppel
• Ebba Þóra Hvannberg, University of Iceland, IS
• Christine Overgaard Rasmussen, Computerome, DTU/DeiC, DK
• Andreas Jaunsen, Secretary, NordForsk/FAIR, NO
• Tomasz Malkiewicz, Chair, NeIC/CSC, FI

• Ex officio member: Gudmund Høst, NeIC, NO

Present:

Excused:

Agenda

1. Welcome, approval of agenda, 5' (Tomasz, All)
2. Consolidating vision for NeIC 2022 Conference, 20' (All)
3. Tentative agenda, 10' (All)
4. Candidate speakers, 10' (All)
5. Next steps, next meetings, 5' (Tomasz)
6. AOB (Any Other Business), 5' (Tomasz, All)

Minutes

1. Welcome, approval of agenda

No comments. Agenda approved.

2. Consolidating vision for NeIC 2022 Conference

From June 2021 Kick-off meeting:

• Tentative theme for the conference: Concept of knowledge systems (data, research infrastructure, e-infrastructure): For instance a supercomputer is part of the knowledge system.
  • Research performing actors and organisations, even research funding systems is part of the bigger knowledge system.
• Open up these knowledge systems across the region to become more integrated and competitive? Challenges / bottlenecks; legal issues in sharing data (in knowledge systems), harmonisation of policies, siloing public budgeting – not easy to apply the funding for a wider perhaps, even though it will benefit society as a whole.

Input prior to August 2021 meeting

• Notes:

• Possibly a joint statement: Open Science & Research and Innovations systems consisting of EOSC and GAIA-X, Pre-Exascale HPC, AI and Health
  • Doesn’t have to be committing or very sharp
  • Perhaps done during SE presidency of Nordic Council of Ministries
  • Heads of Research Councils/Ministry type of people e.g. Education ministries
  • Related to 2030 vision of Nordic Prime Ministries
  • UN goals (https://sdgs.un.org/goals)

Notes from August 2021 meeting

Gudmund intro: Further to tentative theme given in previous meeting; We often highlight the “Nordic added value”, but what does it really mean? Is it quantifiable in terms of € or Kr? … and the prime minister pitch(?); “Sustainable, integrated, competitive”.

Propose two possible themes for the conference:

“Nordic Models for Open Science Collaboration” the somewhat more technical side of Nordic collaboration. “Model” here is used as a way to suggest that collaboration can also be conceptualised and structured in various formal ways. It may have other interpretations also. “Open Conversations on Open Science” open up collaborative outputs like meeting minutes, including tentative conclusions will contribute to i) tougher testing and arguments, ii) increased visibility (and interest), iii) exposure to broader selection of actors

The conference is an opportunity to develop the Nordic benefits (or “leading edge”) further, although it is already very competitive. Wish to use the conference as a means of strengthening this Nordic capabilities further.

• Nordic Model “best option”, Nordic Commons could be an example (health science)
• Agree with the “Nordic Models” option, tying infrastructures together
• also supporting Nordic Models, NDGF, LUMI (unique examples of Nordic collaborations), Nordic Commons, NORDUnet, MetCoOp

      >> would be good to also ponder on plans for the future

• both themes are good options; “Open Science”, regional integration, elevate regional “levels”, sustainability of activities (in this regard emphasising the “Nordic Model” option).
• Nordic Models, not static, to be evolving and developed

      >> how we build society/how societies are functioning

• emphasise the Nordic aspect (for both alternatives)
• Nordic Models: gives the possibility to bring many various avenues to this topic (eg. vulnerability of pandemics, self-reliance, ...)
• combine high-level presentations/discussions with additional infrastructure level session

3. Tentative agenda

• Tentative plan:

• Mon 30.5.:
  • 11-12 Opening GH & others
  • 12-13 Lunch
  • 13-14 Key-note 1
  • 14-14:30 Coffee break
  • 14:30-17:30 EOSC-Nordic Policy workshop
  • 19- Opening dinner

• Tue 31.5.:
  • 7:30- NeIC run
  • 9-12 High-level politics
    • NO presidency in Nordic Council of Ministers
    • LUMI
    • Open Science
    • 10 years of NeIC
  • 12-13 Lunch
  • 13-16 Data management session (work name)
    • 13-14 National data management initiatives
    • 14-14.45 Parallel sessions: Data management in 1) Sensitive health data and 2) climate research
    • 15-16 Common panel session on data management
  • 17-19 Social activities
    • Fjord sightseeing
    • Nobel Peace Center tour
    • Holmenkollen Zipline & Ski museum
    • Oslo sightseeing (bus, Segway, etc)
  • 19- Dinner at the city center

• Wed 1.6.:
  • 8:30-11 Workshops & tutorials
    • Workshop 1: Quantum computing / Mikael Johansson, CSC
    • Workshop 2: Sensitive data / representatives from NO, SE, DK, possibly FI - names not confirmed
    • Workshop 3: Portals / Anne Fouilloux, UiO - not confirmed
    • (Possible workshop 4: Data visualization / NVIDIA - not confirmed)
  • 11-12 Key-note 2
  • 12-13 Lunch
  • 13-13:30 Closing GH & others

Collocated meetings on Wed 1.6 evening, Thu 2.6.

• EOSC-Nordic end of the project Thu 2.6.
• RDM workshop Wed 1.6. afternoon - Thu 2.6. morning

Comments and suggested topics:

• LUMI: JU director Anders Jensen
• regarding “high-level” session; what audience is the target for this session?
• originally aimed high for the opening session (prime minister of Norway) – ministerial from other countries. In this case invitations / preparations would need to start very soon. Suggest to meet in 1-1,5 months to revisit this.

4. Candidate speakers

Anders Jensen (related to LUMI) PM of Norway (after election)

• State secretaries or ministers will need to have a slot to talk (in order to show up), need to focus the audience (see previous agenda item)
• Estonia contribution could be an example of going beyond the (traditional) Nordic region
• Strong opening on Day 1, and a good closing session.
• Denmark: new strategy in Life Science which could bring relevance to a number of ministers participation
• Clarify if “politicians day” on Day 2 or high-level scientific speaker

Day 3: purely scientists, staff

Many good alternatives as keynote speaker (eg. in Life Science), for example, Jan Bjaalie (UiO medicine), Barend Mons (GO-FAIR). Plenty of good alternatives in HEP, LifeScience, pandemic, ...

5. Next steps, next meetings

• Next meeting is agreed on:

October 29, 2021, 9-10 CET

Note: Kristina possibly replaced by Ivar

6. AOB (Any Other Business)

None.