EOSC’s First AAI Architecture Deliverable Marks Key Advance for Open Science

A significant development has emerged from the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) with the recent release of the inaugural deliverable from its new EOSC-A Task Forces. Titled “EOSC AAI Architecture 2025,” this document represents a crucial step forward for the platform.

Issued by the EOSC Association Task Forces established earlier this year, this deliverable outlines the essential interoperability guidelines for the initial deployment of the EOSC Authentication and Authorisation Infrastructure (AAI) Federation. It establishes the fundamental framework for seamless connection and resource sharing within the EOSC environment.

Notably, these guidelines are complemented by a practical guide designed for Candidate EOSC Nodes, detailing the procedures for integrating with the EOSC AAI Federation. The immediate objectives for this phase of the AAI Federation are clear: to facilitate Single Sign-On (SSO) across the first wave of EOSC Nodes and to enable researchers to execute workflows that leverage resources distributed across various Nodes.

The architectural approach has been guided by three core principles: establishing minimal requirements, prioritising straightforward component configuration, and ensuring implementability with current technological capabilities. From a technical standpoint, the design incorporates established protocols such as OpenID Connect and OAuth2, with MyAccessID serving as the central Identity and Trust Layer across the Federation.

This deliverable is paramount, as it establishes a robust foundation for the EOSC AAI Federation and its core functionalities. The initial practical outcomes of this AAI Federation are anticipated to be presented at the EOSC Symposium 2025 in Brussels (03-05 November).

For those interested in a comprehensive overview, the official announcement can be found directly on the EOSC website.