Open science policy to get more support

Among other things, open science involves making scholarly publications and research data open and accessible to promote the growth of knowledge, innovation, and competitiveness, and a more efficient exploitation of resources. This is set out in the 2020 Research Policy Bill (Research, Freedom, Future – Knowledge and Innovation for Sweden, Govt Bill 2020/21:60).

Decisions have been made at both the European and national levels for a transition towards an open science system, formulated in, for example, the European University Association’s (EUA) Agenda for Open Science 2025, and in National guidelines for open science developed by the National Library of Sweden on behalf of the Swedish Government.

“The Vice-Chancellor has established a plan for the University’s work with open science, which focuses on activities in 2025, when two priority actions are planned: the development of an open science policy, and a survey of the departments’ management of research data. Planned activities will be followed up in December 2025, at which time the plan will also be updated,” says Ingeborg Amnéus, Analyst at University Administration.

Policy that covers open science and research data support

According to Hans Karlsson, professor at the Department of Information Technology and the Vice-Chancellor’s representative in the work on open science at Uppsala University, the policy will be based on SUHF’s Roadmap for open science and describe how the University can work towards an open science system.

“During the spring, a dialogue will be conducted with the disciplinary domains and other parts of the University to capture comments and suggestions for the policy’s design,” says Hans Karlsson.

The University’s recently established Research Data Support function will work with the concrete development of open science and open research data, as well as providing support for researchers. Work on developing this support will continue in 2025 and will be linked to support at the disciplinary domains.

Research Data Support consists of a group of people covering all the disciplinary domains with expertise in information security, data storage, sensitive personal data, publishing and sharing of data, as well as probity in research and data management plans.

“Support is provided, for example, through information available on the University’s website, via e-mail, and in Zoom as well as in-person meetings with researchers, but also through training such as open courses offered through the University Library and existing courses offered within the disciplinary domains, “ he says.

Departments’ management of research data to be surveyed

In 2025, a survey will begin of the departments’ management of research data. The survey will include the current procedures used in managing research data, such as how data management plans and publishing research data are handled, the need for expert support and infrastructure services, the type and volume of research data that the departments handle, and how the costs of storing research data are managed today. The survey will be carried out this autumn and will continue into the beginning of 2026, according to Hans Karlsson.

“The departments can prepare themselves by reviewing their procedures concerning research data, for example on how data management plans are handled, where research data is currently being stored, and how the department is working with the publication of research data and meta data,” he says.

Johan Ahlenius