<< Background >>Open Science (OS) has become a catalyst in shaping research and society in the EU by supporting science in meeting the grand challenges our societies face today. OS shapes the scientific and societal transformation for accountability, transparency and sustainability. One of the OS components is Citizen Science (CS) which has been acknowledged as a pivotal field for the new generation science (see UNESCO’s first draft of the “Recommendation on Open Science”, 2020) and has been growing exponentially the last few years, with hundreds of scientists already leading CS projects and millions of volunteers participating in a increasing number of CS initiatives. Although CS is high on the EU policy agenda (see EU’s “A new ERA for Research and Innovation”, 2020), the disconnection between CS and OS is salient. Too often CS produces data and results that remain mostly inaccessible and short-scale. Thus, there is a huge untapped potential in connecting them to the pan-European OS endeavour -including the investments in EOSC and citizen observatories- that would allow open, transparent and responsible sharing and re-use, and their connection to the evidence basis to address global societal challenges (see UN’s Sustainable Development Goals). There is a need to develop a connecting anchor between society & science and research libraries are key actors (see SRIA of the EOSC V1.0). Many libraries have developed CS supporting services, others rely on citizens to process their collections, whereas CS initiatives, such as SciStarter, have partnered with academic libraries to develop guidelines for the best possible implementation (see the “The Library & Community Guide to Citizen Science” with Arizona State University). However, not all EU countries are aligned with respect to this rapidly expanding field: Southeastern (SE) Europe countries are less developed in terms of OS and CS (see EU report “Supporting Open Science and collaborative Research within the Western Balkans”, 2018; Outcomes from the 2021 EOSC Workshop “Research Libraries, Researchers & the EOSC: How do they interact? Southern European Landscape”). Appropriate funding and incentives need to be put in place to support this endeavour (cf. Open Science Policy Platform Recommendations, 2018). Most of the SE European countries, even with some activity towards this, do not have OS national policies in place (see SPARC’s “An Analysis of Open Science policies in Europe; v4,” 2019), while this activity does not touch upon CS at all. At the same time, only one HEI is recorded by the European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) as a member (see ECSA network of stakeholders). In addition, based on findings from the LIBER activities, SE European countries face several obstacles that prevent them from fully meeting the OS and CS cycle and EOSC awareness. Lack of funding and language barriers are obstacles, as well as professional skills related to OS and CS in HEIs. A lack of conviction about the utility of being more extrovert towards other countries, regions or even stakeholders external to the organisation’s immediate environment is also considered as an obstacle. What has been expressed as need for SE Europe countries among LIBER libraries in the region is the lack of strong OS culture with can be addressed by 1) providing training and upskilling on professional issues related to OS and CS and 2) by providing guidance and encouragement to library directors in these countries to join the wider European library environment with respect to these fields. Focusing on Citizen enhanced Open Science (CeOS) and linking to the EOSC, the project aims to streamline CS results into the OS virtuous cycle. SE Europe is the geographical region particularly addressed, due to a demonstrated lack of OS and CS synergies (cf. data from OSPP) and need for further support. The project takes as ideal locations HEI libraries, collaborating with public libraries, as hubs for open knowledge & innovation.<< Objectives >>The aim of the project is to raise awareness and mainstream practices in SE European countries (BG, CY, EL, HR, IT, RS), that perform less well in OS/CS and have low awareness on/involvement in major development, such as the ones related to the EOSC, as well as to monitor performance and processes in OS/CS implementation, document and publicly share best practices in a FAIR way, and engage non-expert groups of the public in social participation and collaboration. At the same time, the project aims to provide visibility for the SE European region and not only highlight the challenges this region faces and need to be addressed, but also raising awareness on the potential and value of embracing the cultural and language diversity of the region. Transfer of knowledge is guided by a DK and a NL/pan-European partner. Based on this approach, CeOS_SE aims to empower academic libraries in SE countries to develop further as knowledge hubs by upskilling staff in the connections between OS and CS. It aims to pilot the practice of CeOS at their premises, so that they are able to support inclusive HE systems and to be more extrovert in working together with external stakeholders. LIBER being the project coordinator, will further support such activities, having OS at the core of its Strategy and working towards mainstreaming CS (CS working group established in 2019) and being a provisional member of the newly established EOSC Association (pending final confirmation). Transfer of knowledge from countries more developed in the area, such as NL is an important goal of the project. Connecting to the EOSC is also discussed, in terms of culture change, sustainability and impact, as well as embracing diversity. The objectives cannot be successfully addressed without a clear definition of the project target groups, which are the following: - Staff at academic and public libraries: professional skills development on OS/CS in countries where there is need for increased efforts. - Academic staff at HEIs: increased awareness of CS projects and possibilities to set up new ones, involving public spaces of the universities, as well as research support expert teams, as libraries are. - Citizens: OS/CS projects of public engagement will be set up for the benefit of local societies, in which the HEIs-organisers will have an opportunity to demonstrate their role in strengthening the academia- society relationship.<< Implementation >>CeOS_SE is built on six interconnected objectives each resulting in a tangible project result (PR) for the targeted region (SE Europe). The 1st objective builds the knowledge base of the project, by setting the framework for transferring knowledge and innovation to libraries as hubs for knowledge and innovation in SE Europe. Thus PR1 corresponds to the public release of a “Framework for Transfer of Knowledge and Innovation on citizen-enhanced open science” in the targeted region. The 2nd objective is to initiate and sustain the dialogue and action taking among several types of libraries: public, university and research libraries will commit together in public activities engaging civil society, NGOs, private and public sector bodies. Consequently, PR2 refers to the Report on implementation of CeOS activities in various open knowledge hubs in SE Europe. The 3rd objective is to carry out CeOS public activities to upskill HE academic and library staff in CeOS in SE Europe libraries. We will thus carry out activities and staff training for academic libraries which will be analyzed and translated into transferable and replicable action beyond the partnership (PR3). The 4th objective focuses on a region of SE Europe, the Balkans. To address more carefully the heterogeneity and the synergetic elements in capacity building with respect to CeOS, we will produce a “Roadmap on CeOS in the Balkans” (PR4). The 5th objective is to demonstrate how citizen science affects change within HEIs and especially through Library studies (PR5). PR5 corresponds to the publication “Uptake of citizen science in Higher education curricula and open science practice in SE Europe”. The 6th objective is to encourage policy change grounded on evidence-based results of the CeOS_SE previous outputs, to fuel the potential of CeOS by leveraging them first to the NL and then to the European knowledge building level, especially by connecting to the EOSC (O6). “Policy change in CeOS for sustainability and impact - Connecting to EOSC” refers to PR6. In addition, eight multiplier events are foreseen in Belgrade (27 participants), Zagreb (20), Sofia (20), Patras (20), Nicosia (27), Odense (25), Torino (30) and The Hague (35), to promote CeOS_SE results and ensure transferability. Finally, a 4-day training activity will be organised to upskill project members in design, delivery and assessment of CeOS activities at their premises. For the successful implementation above, we have proceeded to the following choices regarding partnership composition. The consortium is composed by partners with complementary profiles: five HEIs through their libraries (SDU, UNITO, ULSIT, UCY, UP), a university and national library (NSK), a University library (UNILIB) and the Association of European Research libraries (LIBER). The partnership focuses on the geographical region of SouthEastern Europe (partners located in BG, CY, EL, HR, IT and RS) and 2 partners outside this region: SDU in DK and LIBER which, while located in NL, has a pan-European reach.<< Results >>The project results (PR) and other outcomes ( a learning/teaching/training activity and multiplier events) are listed below. (PR1: Framework for Transfer of Knowledge and Innovation on citizen-enhanced open science (CeOS)) PR1A1 Collection of good practice of citizen engagement in OS in university libraries in Europe PR1A2 An audit on skills and practices in university libraries in SE Europe PR1A3 Guidelines to SE Europe university libraries on citizen engagement in OS (PR2 Report on implementation of citizen-enhanced open science in various open knowledge hubs in SE Europe) PR2A1 Collection of practices of academic and public libraries’ collaboration in SE Europe to mainstream CeOS PR2A2 A report on Citizen science co-created activities by academic and public libraries in SE Europe PR2A3 Study: upscaling collaboration between academic and public libraries for CeOS in SE Europe (PR3 Report on implementation of CeOS activities and staff training for academic libraries) PR3A1 A framework for the design and implementation for CeOS activities in SE Europe libraries PR3A2 Assessment report on CeOS activities at partner institutions PR3A3 A training guide and a self- assessment tool (PR4 Roadmap on CeOS in the Balkans) PR4A1 Draft roadmap on CeOS in the Balkans PR4A2 Consultation on CeOS in the Balkan region PR4A3 Final roadmap on CeOS in the Balkans (PR5 Uptake of citizen science in Higher education curricula and open science practice in SE Europe) PR5A1 Analysis of current practice in CeOS uptake in Higher education curricula in Library studies in SE Europe PR5A2: Digital showcase of integration of CeOS in HE curricula in SE Europe PR5A3: Audit: citizen science feeding into the Open Science cycle in SE Europe (PR6 Policy change in CeOS for sustainability and impact - Connecting to the EOSC) PR6A1 Report on vision building workshops in SE Europe PR6A2 Analysis: CeOS in the Netherlands: transferability potential PR6A3 Report on Stakeholders’ Consultation at European level PR6A4 Policy recommendations for sustainability and connection to the EOSC Translation in partner languages Project results will be translated in partner languages to maximize impact within local and national communities of stakeholders. Results will be thus made available in 8 languages: the 5 target languages of SE Europe, namely EL (for Greece and Cyprus), SR, HR, BG, IT. They will also be available in DK, NL and in English. The results that will be translated in partner languages are strategic project results such as PR2A3 and PR4A3 and the infographics of PR4A3.