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Open Research Information

On 16 April 2024, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam signed the Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information. In doing so, VU Amsterdam speaks out for the importance of open research information for a more accountable and transparent form of research evaluation.

By signing the Barcelona Declaration, VU Amsterdam commits to four principles: 

1. open research information becomes the norm 

2. (collaborate with) services and systems that support and enable open research information 

3. support sustainable infrastructures for open research information 

4. collaborate on the transition from closed to open research information

The University Library has already taken a number of steps that contribute to these principles, and is working on further steps. For each of the four principles, these are described below. 

Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information

Curious to know more?

Read more on barcelona-declaration.org

Liberating science practices in academia

"I like the slogan 'Open Science is just science done right'. To me it means liberating the science practices in academia; being as transparent as possible without giving away the edge that one might have on a certain topic. (...) Developments like the European Open Science Cloud, and the Barcelona Declaration keep the momentum going."

Joeri Both, Head of Research Support at the University Library of VU Amsterdam, on OpenAIRE.eu, November 15, 2024



Read the interview with Joeri

From Barcelona to Paris 

The University Library is enthusiastically working towards more open research information, and a number of important goals have already been met. In doing so, we have made a valuable contribution to the transparency and integrity of research evaluation. But it is clear that we are far from finished, and we are also very aware that we cannot do this alone. We will use the coming time to reflect on our goals, and how we can achieve them together with our partners. In September 2024, the signatories of the Barcelona Declaration have met in Paris to further shape cooperation in the Coalition for Open Research Information.

Meaning of the Barcelona Declaration

  • Open research information becomes the norm

    The first principle in the Barcelona Declaration states that open research information becomes the norm for the data we use as well as for research information we produce ourselves. In terms of using research information, team Research Intelligence already uses open source data sources such as OpenAlex and OpenAIRE where possible. The publication of the open version of the Leiden Ranking has also dispelled much scepticism around the use of such open data sources. Open sources are not yet available for all information. We naturally keep an eye on new developments, but we also work ourselves on making data openly available. For instance, data on VU research output (so-called metadata) are published in the Netherlands Research Portal in OpenAIRE. 

  • Working with services and systems that support and enable open research information

    To make research information open, it is important to remove technical and contractual barriers. With this second principle, we commit to working towards this by ensuring that research information generated during the publication process is also openly available. For example, in negotiations with publishers, the University Library states that the metadata of VU publications will not become the exclusive property of those publishers, but will also be made openly available via Crossref. Also, the system used to manage research information must have the ability to export that research data, and thus be usable outside that system. That capability is currently already there. And as mentioned above, we also use that capability to make our information openly available. 

  • Supporting sustainable infrastructures for open research information

    Open research information infrastructures enable open research information to be made available to users. It is often not clear to users exactly what an infrastructure does, until the moment that infrastructure goes down, and all the services built on it can no longer be used. An example of such an infrastructure is Crossref, which makes metadata about publications available. It is important that such an infrastructure is sustainable. The University Library has an active role in the community that designs and manages open infrastructures, thus supporting the sustainability of those structures. In the future, we will also pay more attention to ensuring that the operations of the infrastructures we use are in line with the principles of the Barcelona Declaration. 

  • Support joint action to accelerate the transition to open research information

    We mentioned above that the University Library is active in the community that has emerged around open research information. For example, we are directly involved in the Coalition for the advancement of Research Assessment (CoARA), in OpenAIRE, and in SURF. Within those various groups, we share our experiences, and jointly try to move towards more open research information. In time, that will include looking at an open system to manage VU's research information. For now, the current options are of insufficient quality.

Team Research Intelligence

researchintelligence.ub@vu.nl

Contact

Portret of Project manager Research Intelligence Matthijs de Zwaan

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