In 2022, the Helmholtz Association adopted the Helmholtz Open Science Policy as a pioneering step in advancing the transition toward open science. As the first research organisation in Germany, Helmholtz commits itself to open science, in line with the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science and its anchoring in national and European science policy. This milestone agreement was developed by the Helmholtz Open Science Office and the Helmholtz Working Group on Open Science and adopted by the Helmholtz Members Assembly in 2022. The Helmholtz Open Science Policy formulates the Association’s commitment to open science in accordance with the principle “as open as possible and as closed as necessary”, defines specific and measurable objectives around three focus areas (open access, open research data, and open research software), and defines recommended open science practices for implementation purposes.
Helmholtz Open Science Policy
Abstract
Country | Germany |
Start date | 2022 |
Annual Budget | |
Responsible organisation(s) | Helmholtz Association |
Target group(s) | Research community |
Policy instrument type | Strategies, agendas and plans |
The policy was introduced in response to growing international commitments to open science and the need to make publicly funded research outputs more accessible, reusable, and transparent.
Promote open access to scientific publications, research data, and research software as the standard practice for disseminating Helmholtz research outputs.
Improve the transparency, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability of research outputs through open science practices and adherence to FAIR principles.
Establish measurable commitments and common implementation requirements to support the systematic adoption and monitoring of open science across Helmholtz Centres.
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