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Open access to research data

Open access to research data means that data collected and/or created during the course of research shall be published with free access via internet. The Swedish Research Council is coordinating Sweden’s work on introducing open access to research data.

The purpose of open access to research data is to ensure that data that has been collected and/or created during the course of the research can be shared and reused.

Determining which data can be published with open access shall always be based on applicable legislation. If research data can be used and reused without conditions other than to specify the source, they are defined as open research data.

Open access to data is dependent on good data management

Good data management is a key component of open access to research data, and a cornerstone for FAIR. Using a Data Management Plan (DMP), researchers can describe how data are collected and/or created, how they will be handled during the course of the research, and how they will be taken care of afterwards. As from 2019, all those awarded grants by the Swedish Research Council will need to produce such a plan.

The Swedish Research Council has appointed a working group to coordinate the national work on data management plans, to support increased open access to research data.

Open research data according to FAIR

FAIR is an internationally recognised concept, consisting of 15 guiding principles for open research data and data management. According to the FAIR principles, research data shall be

  • Findable
  • Accessible
  • Interoperable
  • Reusable

In 2016, Sweden and the EU member states adopted the EU Council’s conclusions on the transition towards an open science system. The Council’s conclusions encouraged member states to follow the FAIR principles in their research programmes and principles for funding.

The EU Council’s conclusions on the transition towards an Open Science system (9526/16)external link

Criteria for FAIR research data

In 2017, the Swedish Research Council received an assignment from the Government to produce criteria for assessing how research data that have wholly or partly been produced using public funds fulfil the FAIR principles.

The criteria we have produced can also be used to support researchers in their planning and conduct of research and data management according to FAIR.

Criteria for FAIR research data (in Swedish)

PublISHED ON 06 February 2019

UpDATED ON 09 April 2020

Pdf / Printout

Contact

For questions about our assignment and NPR

openscience@vr.se

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