What is a ProjectathonThe Once-Only Technical System is creating a cross-sector dataspace.
A Projectathon is an event where teams from different EU countries connect their systems under one roof and perform a marathon of peer-to-peer interoperability and compliance tests in a structured environment for several days. The tests are supervised and verified by neutral experts acting as Monitors.
Benefits of participating in a Projectathon
The Projectathon is a crucial step in the development, testing and deployment into production of the Once-Only Technical System components
- An excellent opportunity to verify that your systems or solutions effectively comply with the appropriate specifications
- Promote and increase the visibility of the status and readiness of your organisation or Member State before the go-live of the Once-Only Technical System
- Perform peer testing with real systems using real-world scenarios and detect an error as soon as possible to reduce the cost of implementing and re-testing a fix
- Your participation helps to improve and assess the proper functioning of the Technical Design Documents (TDDs) of the Once-Only Technical System
- Meet relevant experts in the field to share and exchange views, experience, and best practices
- Participate in Projectathon as observers and get ready for the next Projectathon by getting in direct contact with active participants
Projectathon Playbook
The Projectathon Playbook provides a detailed overview of the Projectathon events organised for teams across the Member States willing to test their system before the go-live of the Once-Only Technical System.
Projectathon highlights
Discover how the first Projectathon helped Member States prepare for the Once-Only Technical System launch and gain valuable insights from participants and support teams.
"OOTS Projectathon"
14 - 16 June 2023, Brussels, Belgium - Aftermovie
"OOTS Projectathon"
19 - 21 April 2023, Brussels, Belgium - Aftermovie
"The Value of Once-Only"
David Blanchard - Deputy Head of Unit, DG GROW European Commission
Joao Rodrigues Frade - Head of Sector Building Blocks, DIGIT European Commission
"What is a Projectathon"
Anne-Gaëlle Bergé - Expert in System Interoperability, Kereval
"Once-Only technical support"
Flora Kardos - Service Lead, European Commission
Get more insightful information from each Projectarthon reflection and participants' perspectives.
Go to Projectathon #1 highlights Go to Projectathon #2 highlights
Projectathon #3 Report
This report summarises key results from the testing that took place from 18-20 October 2023, including a useful overview of lessons learned.
Past & Upcoming Projectathons
The Commission is organising three Once-Only Technical System Projectathons in 2023. These are three-day events where national teams will connect various systems and perform a marathon of peer-to-peer interoperability and compliance tests in a structured environment.
Teams and actors in the Projectathons
The preparation of the Once-Only Technical System (OOTS) Projectathons requires the combined effort and input of a diverse and evolving set of contributors
Teams
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OOTS team members in the European Commission
Sub-group editors and their respective teams, The Commission Common Services development team, The EC OOTS Support team, The OOTS communications team, The Commission project managers
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Monitors
Neutral experts, familiar with the Once-Only Technical System specifications or with building blocks that are reused in the Once-Only Technical System architecture, such as eDelivery or eID.
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Member State contributors
Ranging from National Coordinators and sub-group experts to national or sub-national development or integration team members
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Additional Projectathon experts
Experts from IHE and Kereval
Actors
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Organiser team:
overall responsibility for the Projectathon event. The Organiser Team hosts the event, defines the test scope, call for participants, and takes care of the logistics such as the event venue, network, and staff hiring.
Test Session Manager:
coordinator between participants and the Organiser Team: she/he hosts the technical topics related to webinars, and assists participants during the registration, preparatory test and Projectathon. Furthermore, the Test Session Manager evaluates the systems based on the grading from the monitors and communicates the results of the test session to the organisers and participants.
Monitors:
support the participants during the execution of the tests. They grade the tests based on objective evidences and criteria. If needed, they proceed to the necessary clarifications of the specifications, the descriptions of the tests or the tools. They evaluate the test with the “Gazelle” platform test management tool and grade it as verified, partially verified, or failed.
Test Module Designer:
Test Module Designer: expert in the domain. The test module designer defines and documents the test plan, test cases and maintains test data in the “Gazelle” platform test management tool.
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System Under Test (SUT) operator(s):
configure and connect their SUT to “Gazelle”. During the Projectathon event, the SUT operator(s) date(s) with available partners and execute(s) the peer-to-peer tests with them. SUT operators can be on-site or online. They can be coordinators having a direct line to the team working remotely and/or technical people.
Observer:
observe and learn what a Projectathon is, how peer-to-peer tests are executed, to prepare themselves for the next Projectathon event. They observe the tests via screen-sharing or sit in pairs with the volunteering participants who are performing the test profile they are interested in.
“Gazelle” platform test management tool:
manages all the elements necessary for peer-to-peer interoperability tests. It offers a series of tools (validators and simulators) to verify the compliance of messages and documents with specifications or to test the interoperability of an application during a controlled test. This platform originated from the eHealth domain but can be reused in different contexts where peer-to-peer interoperability tests are relevant.
Learn more about the teams and actors in the Projectathon Playbook
How to participate in the Once-Only Technical System Projectathons
There are five main elements you need for your journey to a successful Projectathon.
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Information: Attend the Projectathon Deep-Dive session during the OOTS Implementers Cafes
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Registration: Register your organisation and your system to be tested in Gazelle via the EU survey
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Pre-projectathon test: Perform a Preparatory Test and Connectivity Test
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Projectathon: Connect and perform Peer-to-Peer marathon test
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Post-Projectathon: Publication of Test Reports and best practices
Participate as an observer
Learn more about what a Projectathon is and how the peer-to-peer tests are executed, or prepare yourself for the next Projectathon event, by participating as an observer. Download the Projectathon Playbook to discover how to register as an observe.
