Support and guidance

Research performing and research funding organisations should develop or update policy documents outlining strategic directions for open science relevant to their areas of operation.

Such overarching and general documents set norms for the organisation but should also be formulated to align with the policy documents of other organisations. They can advantageously be developed and grounded through collaboration between organisations in the same sector.

To ensure that policies and guidelines are both implemented and rooted within the organisation, it is important to establish conditions for coordinating efforts for open science within the organisation.

The national guidelines should be the basis for local policy documents on open science, especially regarding the overarching goals for the various areas within open science.

Strategies and action plans that are animating, with concrete goals to achieve, along with implementation measures, may need to be developed. SUHF's roadmap for open science is an example of a strategy developed and decided upon through broad collaboration.

The roadmap and accompanying guidance clarify the responsibilities of Swedish higher education institutions and the measures needed to accelerate the work on open access to research data and research results.

There is a need for education about open science for students, relevant professional support staff and researchers at all levels. The training can be a formal part of, for example, doctoral studies or an informal part of, for example, the universities’ work with staff competence development.

As an increasing number of researchers and organisations embrace open science, the need increases for concrete guidance for how individual researchers and associations should adopt established open science practices throughout the research process.

Research performing organisations should ensure that there is guidance in the form of documents, support functions and opportunities to establish and disseminate knowledge about concrete practices, such as data management plans. The need for local, subject-specific or national guidance should be assessed.

Research performing organisations should offer coordinated support and guidance to researchers on legal issues and assessments that may arise at the intersection of open science and law, to ensure that researchers and others receive equitable support.

This concerns, in particular, copyright issues and questions regarding personal integrity and information security.

The establishment of open science entails investments and reallocation of resources by research performing and research funding organisations.

Progress towards open science, as outlined in these guidelines, entails long-term investments in the establishment and maintenance of infrastructure, support functions, skills development, and specific activities.

Targeted investments in all areas of open science are desirable so as to establish and support existing national solutions and infrastructures, as well as subject-specific and interdisciplinary solutions that promote open science.

Special efforts should be made so that infrastructures that support open science can be maintained and developed to meet the needs of research.