Open science encompasses unhindered access to scientific articles, access to data from public research, and collaborative research enabled by ICT tools and incentives. Broadening access to scientific publications and data is at the heart of open science, so that research outputs are in the hands of as many as possible, and potential benefits are spread as widely as possible:

Open science promotes a more accurate verification of scientific results. By combining the tools of science and information technologies, scientific enquiry and discovery can be sped up for the benefit of society.  Open science reduces duplication in collecting, creating, transferring and re-using scientific material. Open science increases productivity in an era of tight budgets. Open science results in great innovation potential and increased consumer choice from public research. Open science promotes citizens’ trust in science. Greater citizen engagement leads to active participation in scientific experiments and data collection.

The OECD is working with member and non-member economies to review policies to promote open science and to assess their impact on research and innovation.

 

Recommendation of the OECD Council concerning Access to Research Data from Public Funding

The OECD Council adopted a revised Recommendation on Access to Research Data from Public Funding in January 2021. This legal instrument, in force since 2006, has been updated to address new technologies and policy developments.

 

Reports and policy notes

• Going Digital Toolkit note: Open science - Enabling discovery in the digital age (2021)
• Blog: Making data for science as open as possible to address global challenges (2021)
• Enhanced access to publicly funded data for science, technology and innovation (2020)
• Policy note: Why open science is key to combatting COVID-19 (2020)
• Policy note: Fostering science and innovation in the digital age (2020)
• Building digital workforce capacity and skills for data-intensive science (2020)
• Open and inclusive collaboration in science: A framework (2018)
  
• Co-ordination and support of international research data networks (2017)
  
• Open research agenda setting (2017)
  
• Digital platforms for facilitating access to research infrastructures (2017)
  
• Business models for sustainable research data repositories (2017)
• Research ethics and new forms of data for social and economic research (2016)
• Making open science a reality (2015)

 

Find out more

• OECD Global Science Forum
• Open science initiatives relating to COVID-19
• OECD International Survey of Science
• More OECD work on science and technology