National Plan for Development of the Open Science Initiative

Abstract

Bulgaria's "National Plan for the Development of the Open Science Initiative" was approved in January 2021 (published in the State Gazette, issue 6 of 22 January 2021, pp. 87-93). This strategic document outlines the country's commitment to integrating Open Science principles into its research framework, with a focus on enhancing data infrastructures to facilitate the sharing and reuse of research data. The Plan defines the strategic goals, the roadmap for the next period (2021-2025) and the instruments to encourage Bulgarian researchers and research institutions to implement Open Science principles in practice. It sets the role of the Bulgarian Portal for Open Science, the institutional collaboration with EOSC and the further research infrastructures, enabling better visibility and integration of the Bulgarian science. It emphasizes the upgrade of the Bulgarian Portal for Open Science (BPOS), aiming to improve its capabilities in providing open access to scientific publications and research data. It advocates for the creation of new institutional repositories to store and disseminate research outputs, ensuring that data generated by Bulgarian researchers is accessible and reusable.

As a result of its implementation, BPOS has been developed to serve as a national repository, providing a single entry point for quick and easy access to scientific information and publicly funded research outputs. It is maintained by the National Centre for Information and Documentation (NACID) and complies with EU recommendations on access to and preservation of scientific information. In December 2021, nine scientific organizations in Bulgaria signed an agreement to establish the BPOS.

Overview

Country	Bulgaria
Start date	2021
Annual Budget	n/a
Responsible organisation(s)	Ministry
Target group(s)	Researchers, academic institutions, and the broader scientific community of humanities and social sciences in Japan.
Policy instrument type	Strategies, agendas and plans

Background

According to the brand-new Law on the Promotion of Research and Innovation (published in the State Gazette, issue 39 of 1 May 2024) „open science is the transfer of knowledge by providing access to research data and the wide dissemination of research results for which public funding had been granted“. A requirement is introduced that all publicly funded research is based on the principle of open science, and that universities and research organizations with public funding must set up their own structures to promote open science. It is stated that „the Bulgarian Portal for Open Science is a national repository of scientific information resulting from research funded in whole or in part by public funds, as well as a single point of access to such information“ (Art. 78(2)). The adoption of a National Open Science Programme, including measures to promote and observe the principle of open science, is envisaged.

Objective(s)

To provide the research community and society with open and non-discriminatory access to scientific publications and research data at the earliest possible stage, ensuring their usability and reusability

Public access URL

https://www.mon.bg/upload/24848/plan-otvorena-nauka_130121.pdf

All tags

• Sustainable Infrastructures
• Bulgaria
• 2021
• Ministry
• Academic societies academics
• Established researchers
• Higher education institutes
• Students
• Junior researchers
• Public research institutes
• Strategies, agendas and plans
• Strategies for sustainable infrastructures

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