SoBigData.it: Italian Research Infrastructure
The project aims to strengthen the SoBigData research infrastructure (www.sobigdata.eu), coordinated by CNR-ISTI, with the goal of enhancing interdisciplinary and innovative research on the multiple aspects of social complexity by combining data and model-driven approach. SoBigData emphasizes the concept of “responsible data science”, considering the ethical values as one of the pillars of reliable use of big data analytics and artificial intelligence technologies. Consequently, SoBigData RI develops methodologies and approaches to put into practice the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) and FACT (Fair, Accurate, Confidential, and Transparent) principles. The strengthening will concern four main aspects of the infrastructure: (i) Technological aspect: strengthening and creating new computational nodes distributed on the Italian territory with centralized and networking technologies; (ii) Scientific aspect: strengthening and creating new virtual laboratories (VL) to explore specific aspects of society through data science; (iii) Ethical Aspect: Promote the new generation of “responsible data scientists” collaborating with the academia and industry (i.e., providing ethical and legal counseling and facilitating the technology transfer); finally (iv) the creation of DIGIT services for multidisciplinary communities by exploiting the research produced in the VL and the new computational and technological resources. The RI will tackle complex social phenomena such as (but not limited to): Social Impact of AI and explainable machine learning, Societal Debates, and Misinformation Analysis, Disaster response and recovery, Societal and industrial impact of Next-Generation Internet beyond 5G networks. SoBigData is the result of two H2020 grants (grant n.654024 and 871042) and is part of the ESFRI Roadmap 2021.
Workpachages
This WP is responsible for the empowering and creation of SoBigData computational nodes by means of data centers connecting to the RI network.
This work package is the place where new research is developed and tested for and with the community of users of the RI. Thanks to the capabilities offered by the RI, the project will include 11 Virtual Laboratories (VLs), which are online areas equipped with tools for sharing information, methodologies, and opinions.
This Work Package will implement Transnational Access (TNA) and Virtual Access (VA) activities offered by the infrastructure. It will specify the modality of access, including the provided support, target users, and all the activities aimed to implement the RI Access.
This WP will plan, support, and coordinate the project communication activities as well as working on a long-term sustainability strategy.
The WP will develop the publicity materials and project website, and it will support partners in their communication activities towards key stakeholders.
SoBigData RI adheres to the EU vision on Responsible Research and Innovation and operationalizes values driving the ongoing reform of the EU Data Protection and Fundamental Rights legislation. Since 2015 the role of H2020 SoBigData projects has been to operationalize the ELSEC (Ethical, Social, Legal, Economic, and Cultural Aspects) values within AI and machine learning.
This project will provide advanced tools for understanding and managing societal complexity developing in parallel an ethical framework supporting it.
This work package is responsible for the provision of the RI services. There are two categories of services envisaged in this project: online and offline services. The objective of the online services is to produce DIGIT tools able to return to the community the results obtained by the research developed in WP2. Those services are offered in the form of SoBigData libraries, consisting in a set of thematic methodologies available on the cloud and usable both in a JupyterHub environment or in the SoBigData engine, and applications which are stand-alone environments with specific interfaces to be accessed through the RI.
WP7 globally aims to ensure solid and efficient day-to-day management for the project to meet its objectives on time and within budget constraints.