OpenWebSearch.eu’s Post

💡 #Interoperability is not confined within the sphere of #publicadministration. The following article explores the importance of interoperability within #openresearch and the benefits it can produce for #innovation through a shift to a more inclusive and holistic research system. 🔸 Within this context, #TemaEU, a project funded by the #HorizonEU scheme of the #EuropeanUnion, stands out as a ground-breaking #initiative focused on advancing interoperability in the field of #naturaldisastermanagement. 🔗 Read the article on interoperability and open research ⤵ https://lnkd.in/dHYXw5tF

🚀 Breakthrough Research Reveals How Web Link Patterns Reflect Economic Performance Our latest research paper, "Harmony in the Australian Domain Space," will be presented at the ACM, Association for Computing Machinery Web Science Conference (WebSci 2024) in Stuttgart, Germany today. 📊 Key Findings: Harmonic Centrality Analysis We used a measurement of website centrality known as harmonic centrality to explore the relationship between economic diversity at the firm level and the structure of the web within the Australian domain space. Our findings reveal consistent patterns in harmonic centrality distributions across different years. Cluster Movements: The temporal movement of domain names across six clusters provides insights into the dynamics of the Australian Domain Space, including trends towards concentration in a few domain names. Predictive Capabilities: Our research shows that harmonic centrality not only measures the structural influence of web domains but also correlates with non-structural features such as company revenue and social media presence. This has profound implications for potential follow-on research that could use web data to improve economic modelling. 🌍 Global Relevance: The observed homogeneity in harmonic centrality distributions across 35 OECD countries suggests that our findings can be generalized and applied to broader international contexts, making this research relevant beyond Australia. 💡 Benefits of this Research: Enhanced Understanding: Provides a new perspective on the relationship between web structure and economic diversity, aiding policymakers and businesses in strategic decision-making. Innovative Metrics: Introduces harmonic centrality as a robust metric for assessing the influence and connectivity of web domains, with potential applications in various industries. Data-Driven Insights: Utilizes large-scale, publicly accessible datasets to offer reproducible and reliable insights into web and network analysis. 🔗 Read the Full Paper: I invite you to read our detailed findings and methodologies below. Thank you to my amazing co-authors Xian (Elaine) Gong, Marian-Andrei Rizoiu, and Paolo Boldi, and our wonderful collaborators for making this research possible. We are excited to share our work with the Web Science community and look forward to the discussions and feedback. #WebSci2024 #DataScience #EconomicDiversity #HarmonicCentrality #Research #Innovation #computationalsocialscience

🔔 Updates from our Community Programme - continued In 2023 we integrated 6 third-party projects into the OWS.EU ecosystem to contribute sustainable R&D activities. The six selected projects have been looking into technical, legal and economic research topics in support of a European Open Web Index. Being halfway into the project timelines, we are sharing some preliminary results from all projects including outlooks. 📍Today in the spotlight: Project MRC with a comprehensive market potential assessment study Following our Third-Party Open Call 1, The Munich based consulting firm Mücke Roth & Company has been looking into economical questions related to a European #OpenWebIndex. The project is led on by Daniel Nowakowski and his team with the goal to study both #economic and #societal implications of #OpenWebSearch in Europe.    Two intertwined studies were fully executed in the past 9 months. The economic study included a cost-benefit analysis, the identification of key customer segments and market dynamics through competitor benchmarking and a quantification of the European search engine market potential. The findings: Substantial economic benefits of an Open Web Index as provided by OWS.EU are expected already within the first 10 years. The final results will be presented to the public in September 2024. Stay tuned for updates! ;) ➡What’s next?  Currently implications of the EU AI Act are monitored in order to adapt the strategy in case new regulations may arise. Furthermore, additional customer feedback and interviews validating the findings of the study are on the way. #OpenWebSearch #ThirdPartyProjects #CommunityUpdate Universität Passau Radboud University CERN German Aerospace Center (DLR) Leipzig University Technische Universität Graz IT4Innovations National Supercomputing Center CSC - IT Center for Science A1 Slovenija d.d. Bauhaus-Universität Weimar Open Search Foundation NGI - The Next Generation Internet   

👉 Are you an open source enthusiastic innovator or researcher with an expertise in algorithmic and software applications ❓ 📍 This is your call to join the OpenWebSearch.eu project consortium as a Third-Party Partner and get funded with up to 100,000 EUR. The Horizon Europe project OWS.EU aims at building and piloting a foundation for commercially exploitable applications based on a European #OpenWebIndex.  With #OpenCall No 2, OpenWebSearch.eu is looking for innovators, researchers, SMEs and start-ups who would like to contribute their application ideas based on an Open Web Index. The consortium asks for #technical, #algorithmic and #software contributions, focused on developing potential components and applications of the pilot open search infrastructure, including #MachineLearning or #AI models. What's more? The OpenWebSearch.eu project team will provide access to both pre-processed and indexed data in the Terabyte range and deliver continuous, daily updates. Successful applicants should use and exploit the data provided in innovative applications scenarios or research topics. They should technically define and develop new search and discovery applications, content analysis methods, search paradigms, data products or extend the platform in relevant ways. Find all the specifics and how to apply here: https://lnkd.in/dKiMGbYw #EUproject #OpenCall #OpenWebSearch #OpenWebIndex #SoftwareApplications #OpenSourceInnovators NGI - The Next Generation Internet Project Partners: Universität Passau Radboud University CERN German Aerospace Center (DLR) Leipzig University Graz University of Technology IT4Innovations National Supercomputing Center CSC - IT Center for Science A1 Slovenija d.d. Bauhaus-Universität Weimar Open Search Foundation

The government's 2024 research plans signal a pivotal moment for tech and sustainability. Aligning with Advanced's commitment to innovation and responsible practices, this sets the stage for transformative change. #ResearchPlans #Innovation

Attending #ecscw2024? Check out our Workshop: Conducting Interdisciplinary Research with Vulnerable Populations in Computing: Challenges, Practices, and Lessons Learned. The workshop will take place during the conference in Rimini, Italy on June 17th, 2024. Application Deadline: online form with expression of interest (May 27th at midnight AoE). Apply here: https://lnkd.in/e2xbe8zQ ** Call for Participation ** We invite PhD students, researchers, professionals, or practitioners who have worked in interdisciplinary research collaborations involving digital technology with and/or for vulnerable groups. Those interested in being part of the workshop will be required to fill out and submit their expression of interest to join the workshop via an online application form. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: - Finding research collaborators outside Computer Science - Best practices in designing and executing interdisciplinary research with vulnerable groups - Collaborative research plan, design, and execution - Sharing of research outcomes across different disciplines - Privacy and Confidentiality - Ethical Considerations Apply here: https://lnkd.in/e2xbe8zQ #ECSCW2024 #Workshop EUSSET - European Society for Socially Embedded Technologies

#NewResearch: Technologies play an important role in how we consume, share and engage with information, and communicate with others. They can also significantly affect cultural norms, values and identities. What technological and social changes can we expect in the information environment in the coming decades? And how could UK defence prepare for them?   Our new report for Dstl with Frazer-Nash Consultancy examines how changing technology in the information environment may shape culture in 2035-2050. We found that impactful change is likely in ten areas:   🔴 AI 🔴 Biotechnology 🔴 Extended reality 🔴 Human-machine interfaces 🔴 Information and communication technologies 🔴 Advanced materials 🔴 Sensors 🔴 Space technology 🔴 Quantum technology and encryption 🔴 Security, validation and privacy-enhancing technologies   Read more in the full report, 'Cultural and technological change in the future information environment', at https://lnkd.in/eWQU5Dz6   Lin Slapakova   #Futures #DefenceNews #DefenseNews #UKDefence

I’m thrilled to share insights about the upcoming launch of the European Search Perspective (EUSP) in 2025! 🌍 This exciting initiative is a collaboration between Ecosia, known for its commitment to environmental sustainability, and Qwant, a leader in privacy-focused search technology. Together, they aim to create a search engine that embodies European values of privacy and ecological responsibility. EUSP will not only prioritize user privacy—ensuring that personal data remains protected—but will also reinvest profits into environmental projects, particularly tree planting. 🌳✨ This dual focus on sustainability and privacy is essential in today’s digital landscape, where users are increasingly concerned about how their data is used. Under the leadership of Olivier Abecassis, who has a strong background in digital innovation and telecommunications, EUSP is set to challenge the dominance of major search engines like Google. Abecassis envisions a platform that leverages generative AI while remaining firmly rooted in European principles. As we move toward a more digitally sovereign Europe, initiatives like EUSP are crucial. They not only enhance our technological independence but also ensure that our digital ecosystem reflects our values. Let’s embrace this journey towards a more sustainable and privacy-centric digital future! 💬💻 #DigitalSovereignty #PrivacyFirst #Sustainability #EUSP #TechForGood #Innovation #GreenTech

The editorial for the special issue on “Sphere Transgressions: Reflecting on the Risks of Big Tech Expansionism” that I’m guest editing with Steven R. Kraaijeveld and Tamar Sharon for Information, Communication & Society has been published!   https://lnkd.in/daYGyHxi In this editorial, we reflect on the rapid expansion of Big Tech companies into various societal domains (including health, education, and agriculture) and propose the lens of sphere transgressions to capture the risks of this Big Tech expansionism more fully. The complete special issue will follow soon! In the meantime, you can read the following contributions that have been published recently (all open access!): Joan Lopez Solano and Juan Diego Castañeda present the case of IDEMIA. This French security company has developed a privatized infrastructure for identification and authentication services used by the Colombian National Civic Registry. They engage with the concept of sphere transgressions to question how and when certain forms of transgressions are possible between the public and private sectors. https://lnkd.in/dXTS-WMY Rik Wehrens, Iris Wallenburg and Lieke Oldenhof reflect on the social scientist embedded in consortia seeking to contribute to technological advancement in healthcare. They argue that the sphere transgression framework can generate new challenges and opportunities for researchers to investigate and evaluate such transgressions in situ. https://lnkd.in/d7D7sGGm And I published a research paper on the Apple's ResearchKit software framework. Based on interviews with medical researchers in the Netherlands and the United States I reveal that researchers are not merely passive recipients of sphere transgressions; they respond to Big Tech's initiatives in a variety of ways. Drawing on work by Michel De Certeau I show that researchers do not simply welcome or resist Apple's ResearchKit – they also ‘make do’ using various tactics. https://lnkd.in/dA_jvYm5 That’s it for now! 

This quote stands out "For the whole framework programme, it is now taking an average of 273 days between when calls close and grants are signed. That’s 23 days longer than for the equivalent period in Horizon 2020." 273 days! Multiply that across the number of RTOs, Universities and commercial organisations waiting for a result, hedging their bets before moving ahead with other options. Meanwhile, multiple overlapping technologies continue along their exponential performance curves. Teams involved in EU funding activities need to accelerate the use of generative AI in both preparation of proposals, as well as the implementation of funded projects, to try and compensate for this giant bottleneck. Pressure will continue to rise on these central funding bureaucracies by participants seeking alternatives (more on that to come), and falling further behind other global regions. Expect dramatic consulting business model shifts over the next year fuelled by GenAI/Agent-augmented nimble (cheap) players and self-sufficiency.