Open Science is transforming how research is created, shared, and applied — breaking down barriers between academia and society. Within the NEOLAiA Alliance, this transformation is led by Work Package 8 (WP8): Adopting and Sustaining Open Science, which plays a key role in embedding open and transparent research practices across all partner universities.

WP8’s mission is to promote a culture of accessibility, collaboration, and innovation by equipping researchers with the tools, infrastructures, and guidance needed to embrace Open Science principles. Through initiatives like the SPOD platform, the Open Research Hub, and the Open Science Portal, WP8 empowers researchers to share data, collaborate across disciplines, and make their findings available to all.

In this interview, representatives from WP8 discuss how NEOLAiA is advancing Open Science, the challenges and opportunities that come with this shift, and how these efforts are shaping the future of research within and beyond the Alliance.

Can you introduce Work Package 8 and its main responsibilities within the NEOLAiA Alliance?

Work Package 8 (WP8) is dedicated to promoting and embedding open science principles across the NEOLAiA Alliance. We’re championing open science across NEOLAiA Alliance, transforming how research is shared and communicated to our communities. Our mission is to ensure that research is widely accessible, fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration. Open science goes beyond open access publications—it encompasses data sharing, reproducibility, and collaborative research practices.

WP8 is providing tools and digital infrastructures to support open science, like:

• SPOD – A social platform for open data and open data co-creation: where you collaborate with internal and external stakeholders!
• Open Research Hub – A searchable database that maps researchers and their expertise within the NEOLAiA alliance: where you can get in touch with NEOLAiA researchers that share you interests!
• Open Science Portal – A space for sharing best practices and open science policies: where you can disseminate the results

But our WP8 is also providing guidance on open-access publishing, data management, and licensing, making it easier for researchers to adopt transparent practices.

Why is open science a priority for NEOLAiA?

Open Science is a core element of NEOLAiA’s mission, promoting an inclusive, transparent, and collaborative academic environment. According to UNESCO, Open Science involves making scientific knowledge open, accessible and usable by all. This aligns with the EU’s commitment to sharing knowledge through digital and collaborative technologies.

Open Science accelerates knowledge dissemination, removes access barriers, and fosters interdisciplinary research. Beyond academia, it benefits policymakers, industries and society at large by enabling evidence-based decisions, supporting innovation, and addressing global challenges.

“Open Science is a journey, not a destination.” – Vittorio Scarano

How does WP8 promote the adoption of open-access research?

WP8 promotes open access research through a combination of digital infrastructure, policy support and active researcher engagement. The Open Research Hub and the Open Science Portal serve as a central platform, connecting researchers across the alliance and highlighting expertise, sharing knowledge and good practices.

WP8 is collecting and analysing publication data from NEOLAiA universities, with a focus on open-access outputs. This approach could help identify best practices, areas for improvement, and guide the development of targeted strategies to enhance open-access adoption.

Training sessions and guidelines further support researchers, helping them navigate open-access publishing and data management, ensuring their work is visible, accessible, and impactful.

What strategies does WP8 use to encourage transparency in research?

Transparency in research is achieved by promoting the open sharing of data, methodologies and research workflows. WP8 encourages researchers to adopt FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), ensuring that research outputs are not only visible but also reusable.

WP8’s digital platforms offer spaces for sharing datasets, publications and best practices. This creates a culture of openness and collaboration, where research processes are transparent and verifiable.

What challenges exist in implementing open science policies?

Implementing Open Science involves overcoming cultural, technical, and regulatory challenges:

• Cultural shift: Fostering a mindset that values openness and transparency.
• Data protection: Balancing openness with privacy and ethical considerations, especially for sensitive data.
• Technical infrastructure: Developing and maintaining reliable platforms for data sharing.
• Support and training: Providing researchers with the skills and resources they need.

WP8 addresses these challenges through training, clear policies, and ongoing support, ensuring that Open Science is both encouraged and sustainable.

How does WP8 support researchers in making their work more accessible?

WP8 provides practical tools, guidance, and continuous support to help researchers adopt open-access practices. The Open Research Hub increases research visibility, while training and best practice guidelines assist researchers in publishing their work openly and managing their data effectively.

Additionally, WP8 has developed an “Easy-to-Use Open Science Policy” (Milestone 8.1) issued in 2024. This policy offers clear guidelines for researchers on adopting open science principles, ensuring that they have the necessary support to make their work more accessible and transparent.

Researchers are also encouraged to share their work on open-access platforms, expanding their audience and fostering greater academic and societal impact.

How does open science contribute to greater collaboration across universities?

Open Science fosters a collaborative ecosystem across NEOLAiA universities by promoting transparency, shared standards and mutual trust. Researchers can share data, methodologies, and findings, leading to joint projects, interdisciplinary research and innovation that transcends institutional boundaries.

The shared Open Science platforms facilitate connections between researchers, while joint initiatives further strengthen collaborative ties within and beyond the alliance.

What are the benefits of open-access research for students and staff?
Open-access research offers several benefits:

• For students: It provides unrestricted access to academic resources, enhancing learning experiences and research skills.
• For staff: It increases visibility, citation potential and collaboration opportunities, while also aligning with funding requirements that increasingly mandate open-access compliance.

Open access democratizes knowledge, making it available to everyone, regardless of institutional or financial constraints.

How does WP8 ensure that research outputs have a broader societal impact?

WP8 ensures that research is not only accessible but also understandable and actionable. Open-access data can inform public policy, support technological innovation, and promote evidence-based decision-making.

By involving regional stakeholders and fostering collaborations, WP8 will ensure that the knowledge produced has a direct impact on local communities and beyond.

What are WP8’s key priorities for the future?

Looking ahead, WP8 aims to:

• Expand digital infrastructures to support open science adoption.
• Increase researcher engagement through training and incentives.
• Strengthen institutional open science policies for long-term sustainability.
• Foster collaboration across NEOLAiA universities, enhancing knowledge exchange.
• Develop and promote Citizen Science initiatives, starting this year, to engage the public in research activities, enhance data quality, and strengthen the connection between academia and society.

How do you see open science evolving in the coming years?

Open Science is expected to become the standard model for research dissemination, driven by several key trends:

• Advanced digital tools: The adoption of AI-driven research discovery, interconnected data repositories, and enhanced data management systems will make open science more efficient and accessible.
• Cultural shift: Research practices will increasingly embrace transparency, data sharing, and public engagement as core values, transforming how knowledge is created and shared.
• Policy evolution: European and national policies will continue to prioritize openness as a standard, supported by enhanced infrastructures for open data, citizen science, and collaborative platforms.
• Funding requirements: Many funding bodies and institutions will increasingly mandate open science practices as a condition for grants and academic positions. However, this shift must be matched with adequate support for open access publishing, including dedicated funds and publisher agreements.

NEOLAiA and WP8 are committed to leading these changes, ensuring that open science remains a sustainable, inclusive, and impactful practice across the alliance.

Participants:

This interview was conducted by the UNISA team with contributions from other NEOLAiA partners (Laima Naujokienė (SVK), Irmantas Pilypas (SVK), Tonia Damvakeraki (UNIC), Celine Bodin (UT), Martin Štěpnička (OU))

 

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.