Friday, 05 May 2023
Spanish Government approves groundbreaking National Open Science Strategy for 2023-2027
The Spanish Council of Ministers has approved the National Open Science Strategy for 2023-2027, with an emphasis on open access to publicly funded research results, diverse publication mechanisms, and non-commercial models for quality assurance. Núria Benítez from ICN2 and Miguel A. Benítez from BCAM Bilbao represented SOMMA in the negotiation process. The strategy aims to improve scientific quality, transparency, and reproducibility, and is aligned with European Union policies for open research and data publication.
The Spanish Council of Ministers has approved the first-ever National Open Science Strategy for the period between 2023 and 2027. Developed jointly by the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Ministry of Universities, the strategy is designed to promote quality, transparency, and reproducibility in the Spanish scientific community. In the negotiation process, Núria Benítez from ICN2 and Miguel A. Benítez, Project Manager at BCAM Bilbao, represented SOMMA, ensuring a collaborative effort.
Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, emphasised the strategy's importance in positioning science as a common good and establishing open access to research results funded by public resources. Universities Minister, Joan Subirats, further highlighted the objectives of diversifying publication and communication mechanisms, and supporting non-commercial models to ensure the quality of publications.
The National Open Science Strategy is set to mobilise a public budget of €23.8 million in 2023, with a similar investment anticipated annually until 2027. These measures aim to enhance scientific quality, transparency, and reproducibility in Spain, improve dissemination among scientific personnel, facilitate knowledge transfer to society, and develop pathways for addressing challenges faced by the Spanish scientific community in this new global paradigm.
The strategy is divided into four strategic objectives: ensuring robust, interoperable digital infrastructures; promoting proper management of research data through the FAIR principles; implementing open access by default to scientific publications and results directly or indirectly funded by public resources; and establishing new research evaluation mechanisms and incentive systems to promote open science practices, while also providing training for all personnel involved.
Aligned with European Union measures and policies, the National Open Science Strategy aims to advance a research model based on open publication of research results and data, while also adapting the evaluation of researchers' performance to include qualitative indicators and the social impact of research.
Information via: https://www.ciencia.gob.es