European Union Open Science Policy

When researchers share knowledge and data as early as possible in the research process with all relevant actors it helps diffuse the latest knowledge. And when partners from across academia, industry, public authorities and citizen groups are invited to participate in the research and innovation process, creativity and trust in science increases.

That is why the Commission requires beneficiaries of research and innovation funding to make their publications available open access and make their data as open as possible and as closed as necessary. The Commission recognises and rewards the participation of citizens and end users.

European Commission shares its policies and plans on their open science page. The main ambitions of EU’s open science policy are:

1. Open data: FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-usable data) and open data sharing should become the default for the results of EU-funded scientific research.
2. European Open Science Cloud (EOSC): EOSC is a trusted, virtual, federated environment that cuts across borders and scientific disciplines to store, share, process and reuse research digital objects (like publications, data, and software) that are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR). EOSC brings together institutional, national and European stakeholders, initiatives and infrastructures.
3. New generation metrics: New indicators must be developed to complement the conventional indicators for research quality and impact, so as to do justice to open science practices.
4. Future of scholarly communication: All peer-reviewed scientific publications should be freely accessible, and the early sharing of different kinds of research outputs should be encouraged.
5. Rewards: Research career evaluation systems should fully acknowledge open science activities. 
6. Research integrity and reproducibility of scientific results: All publicly funded research in the EU should adhere to commonly agreed standards of research integrity.
7. Education and skills: All scientists in Europe should have the necessary skills and support to apply open science research routines and practices.
8. Citizen science: The general public should be able to make significant contributions and be recognised as valid European science knowledge producers.