Project title: SSHOpenCloud-IT: FOSSR & H2IOSC Alliance. Advanced Research Infrastructures in the Social Sciences, Humanities and Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Digital Development in Southern Italy.

Funding body: Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR), under the National Programme for Research, Innovation and Competitiveness for the Green and Digital Transition 2021–2027 (PN RIC), co-funded by the European Union.

Scientific Coordinator of the CNR-ISMed Operational Unit: Giovanni Canitano.

Lead institution: National Research Council of Italy (CNR).

Reference research infrastructure: RISIS – Research Infrastructure for Science and Innovation Policy Studies, in synergy with FOSSR (Fostering Open Science in Social Science Research) and H2IOSC (Humanities and Heritage Italian Open Science Cloud).

Role of CNR-ISMed: CNR operational unit involved in Work Packages WP1, WP3, WP4, WP5, WP9 and WP10, undertaking activities in project coordination and management, research infrastructure monitoring and evaluation, socioeconomic analysis, the development of Policy Intelligence tools, training, science communication and dissemination.

Total project funding: €29,225,000.

Project duration: 30 months.

Objectives

SSHOpenCloud-IT aims to strengthen and integrate Italy’s digital research infrastructures for the social sciences, humanities and cultural heritage by establishing a federated ecosystem of resources, data, services and advanced technologies. This ecosystem is designed to support scientific research, innovation and sustainable territorial development, with particular emphasis on Southern Italy.

The project builds on the strategic integration of the FOSSR and H2IOSC infrastructures and the enhancement of the European RISIS research infrastructure. It promotes an Open Science model grounded in the FAIR and CARE principles, system interoperability and the accessibility of digital resources.

The project’s main objectives are to:

• Strengthen research infrastructures and develop a federated cloud environment for the management, integration, analysis and sharing of scientific data.
• Promote the adoption of enabling technologies, including artificial intelligence, advanced analytical tools and semantic technologies, to enhance the value and usability of data and knowledge.
• Develop methodologies and tools for monitoring the performance, technological maturity, and economic, social and territorial impacts of research infrastructures.
• Strengthen connections among the research community, public administrations, businesses and cultural institutions, fostering open innovation and technology transfer.
• Support the digital transformation and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through innovative services and specialised training programmes.
• Promote the dissemination, accessibility and exploitation of research outcomes, encouraging stakeholder engagement and the creation of public value.

Project Overview

SSHOpenCloud-IT is conceived as a federated digital infrastructure supporting research and innovation in the social sciences, humanities and cultural heritage. Through ten interconnected Work Packages, the project brings together scientific and technological resources, data platforms, artificial intelligence tools and advanced digital services, with the aim of strengthening research capabilities and facilitating knowledge transfer to businesses and public institutions.

CNR-ISMed contributes to the project through six Tasks, drawing on its expertise in socioeconomic analysis, research infrastructure and public policy evaluation, data management, and the development of digital tools to support decision-making processes.

The Institute’s activities are organised as follows:

Task 1.4 – Project Coordination and Management Support (WP1)

CNR-ISMed participates in cross-cutting project coordination, organisation and management activities, contributing to the operational integration of the initiative’s various scientific and technological components and to the achievement of its objectives.

CNR-ISMed Task Leader: Daniela De Gregorio.

Task 3.5 – Monitoring and Evaluation of Research Infrastructures (WP3)

CNR-ISMed contributes to the development of a multidimensional framework for assessing the performance, maturity and impacts of research infrastructures through the integration of technological, economic, organisational and social indicators.

The activity aims to establish tools and methodologies capable of assessing not only the efficiency and sustainability of research infrastructures, but also their capacity to generate added value, employment, social inclusion, innovation and benefits for local and regional communities. Particular attention is devoted to evaluating the socioeconomic effects of investment in research and the contribution of research infrastructures to territorial development.

CNR-ISMed Task Leader: Giovanni Canitano.

Task 4.4 – SSHOpenCloud Observatory (WP4)

CNR-ISMed participates in the activities of the SSHOpenCloud Observatory, helping to strengthen connections among research infrastructures, local and regional stakeholders, public institutions and the business sector.

These activities focus on knowledge sharing, the dissemination and exploitation of research outcomes, and the promotion of new opportunities for collaboration and innovation across territories.

CNR-ISMed Task Leader: Desiree Quagliarotti.

Task 5.6 – Policy Intelligence Suite (WP5)

CNR-ISMed contributes to the design and development of advanced decision-support tools for public policymaking, based on the integration of artificial intelligence, territorial knowledge graphs and analytical dashboards.

The Policy Intelligence Suite is designed to transform complex, multidimensional data into actionable knowledge for public administrations through socioeconomic and territorial analysis tools, human–AI collaborative systems, and methodologies supporting public policy planning, monitoring and evaluation.

CNR-ISMed Task Leader: Giovanni Canitano.

Task 9.2 – Training and Digital Skills Development (WP9)

CNR-ISMed participates in the design and delivery of training programmes for small and medium-sized enterprises, aimed at promoting the adoption of advanced tools for data management and the management of complex projects.

These activities seek to strengthen digital skills, support organisational innovation and encourage the adoption of emerging technologies in management and production processes.

CNR-ISMed Task Leader: Daniela De Gregorio.

Task 10.3 – Communication, Dissemination and Public Engagement (WP10)

CNR-ISMed contributes to institutional and science communication, the dissemination and exploitation of project outcomes, through the production of accessible research content, the use of digital platforms, the organisation of public events and stakeholder engagement activities.

The objective is to raise awareness of the research infrastructures and services developed within SSHOpenCloud-IT, strengthening dialogue among the research community, public institutions, businesses and civil society.

CNR-ISMed Task Leader: Stefano Carotenuto.

Overall, CNR-ISMed’s participation in SSHOpenCloud-IT contributes to strengthening the integration of socioeconomic research, digital innovation and public policy evaluation. It promotes an interdisciplinary approach focused on assessing the impacts of research, enhancing the value of data and supporting evidence-based decision-making processes.

CNR-ISMed Task Leaders: Giovanni Canitano (Tasks 3.5 and 5.6), Desiree Quagliarotti (Task 4.4), Daniela De Gregorio (Tasks 1.4 and 9.2), Stefano Carotenuto (Task 10.3).

Keywords (5): research infrastructures; social sciences and humanities; artificial intelligence; impact assessment; digital innovation.