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Open access to research data is possible given the right conditions
Each year, the Swedish Research Council publishes a mapping, an analysis and an assessment of how the national work on open access to research data is developing. This year’s report shows that additional resources are needed to speed up the development.
Five indicators have been developed to enable tracking changes over time for the actors affected by the transition to open access to research data. The indicators cover different areas, such as strategy and policy, working practices, procedures and processes, and knowledge-enhancing initiatives. Together, they provide a picture of the scope of the impact of the work on open access to research data, and the type of support different actors will need in the future. The indicators are based on other frameworks, such as FAIR and the agreement that forms the basis for CoARA (Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment).
This year’s report shows that additional resources are needed to enable necessary changes. The result is expected, as the transition to open access to research data requires new ways of working, structures, competences and technical conditions, which all take time. Many organisations are also managing the transition to an open science system within several areas simultaneously, where research data form an important part.
“The annual report is an important foundation for the continued work, as it provides a picture of what needs to be done for Sweden to achieve the goal of open access to research data,” says Katarina Bjelke, Director General of the Swedish Research Council.
During Sweden’s presidency of the European Council, a declaration was presented about maximising the advantages of research data. The ‘Lund Declaration’ underlines that research data that are FAIR and open from the start can increase the quality, effectiveness, transparency and integrity of research and innovation.
“The Lund Declaration shows that there is strong political support for the work on open access to research data. We look forward to continue working with actors, both national and international, within this major and important area,” says Katarine Bjelke.
The Lund Declaration on the Government’s website (in Swedish).
External link.
The Swedish Research Council’s indicators in brief
- There is a strategic focus for open access to research data that is based on good data management and where access is created according to the principle of “as open as possible and as limited as necessary”.
- Organisational working practices, procedures and processes include work on open access to research data.
- Knowledge-enhancing initiatives for open access to research data have been established.
- Research data are produced based on good data management and are made openly accessible according to the principle of “as open as possible and as limited as necessary”.
- Open access to research data is part of the incentive system.
Each claim (indicator) is evaluated on a three-grade scale: “Fulfilled”, “Partly fulfilled” or “Not fulfilled”.
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