The Norwegian Research Council, along with the EU commission, have been strong advocates for open access to published research, open sharing of research data, and for expansion of the current infrastructure for research and data sharing, known as “Open Science”.

Open Science represents an approach to research that is collaborative, transparent, and accessible, and comes with a range of criteria: Scientists are encouraged and expected to publish in open access journals or science archives, to engage in public debates on research matters, to be involved in larger research collaborations, and to help establish open research practices.

The framework around these criteria can be utilized in various performance evaluation systems, both on an individual and an institutional level. They are meant to be adapted to different career levels. Entry-level scientists can be rewarded for learning about Open Science activities, whereas senior scientists can be rewarded for initiating and participating in such activities, for support or mentoring activities, or for contributing to the development of institutional practices.

To aid the implementation of Open Science, the EU commission has launched the Open Science Monitor, providing a way to assess developments and trends in open science activities. The initiative monitors several indicators to assess open access to publications, data sharing and academic communication. As the Norwegian government has decided that all publications receiving public grants shall be open to everyone by 2024, I strongly advise everyone to use this resource to keep an eye on what’s happening in Open Science.

Roland Jonsson
Acting Head