Open Science

Basic Information on Open Science

Open science represents a comprehensive and far-reaching transformation in the approach to scientific research. It involves a systemic shift and a change in the way we think about all stages of the research lifecycle. The changes that have been taking place globally over recent decades, in line with the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science and the European Directive on open data and the re-use of public sector information, are primarily reflected in a shift from competition towards collaboration, inclusion, accountability, transparency, and accessibility. Among others, open access policies are required by funders (such as the Horizon Europe programme), research institutions (the policies of universities or research institutes), and other stakeholders (the policies of national agencies and governments) in the funding and implementation of scientific research.

Open science comprises a set of principles and practices aimed at ensuring that research from all fields of science is accessible to everyone, for the benefit of science and society as a whole. Opening up science therefore means more than simply providing access to the results of scientific research. It also involves opening up the processes of creating, evaluating, sharing, exploring, and storing scientific knowledge, practices, and perspectives.

The UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science contains the first internationally agreed definition of open science, which is defined as an inclusive construct that brings together various movements and practices with the aim of:

• making multilingual scientific knowledge open, accessible, and reusable for everyone;
• increasing scientific collaboration and the exchange of information for the benefit of science and society; and
• opening up the processes of creating, evaluating, and communicating scientific knowledge to social actors beyond the traditional scientific community.

It encompasses all scientific disciplines and aspects of scientific practices, including fundamental and applied sciences, natural and social sciences, and the humanities. Open science is based on key pillars: open scientific knowledge, open scientific infrastructures, scientific communication, open engagement of social actors, and open dialogue with other knowledge systems.

In Slovenia, we are committed to open science through the Scientific Research and Innovation Activities Act (ZZrID). Article 2, paragraph 6 of the ZZrID stipulates that scientific research activities are based on the principles of open science, which include, in particular, open access to all research results according to the principle “as open as possible, as closed as necessary.” Research results “must be findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable” (FAIR – Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). The ZZrID also provides for the use of responsible metrics in the evaluation of scientific research activities and for the involvement of communities and the interested public (citizen science) in the scientific research process.

Taking into account the Resolution on the Slovenian Scientific Research and Innovation Strategy 2030 (ReZrIS30) and recommendations of European research policies, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia laid down more detailed requirements for conducting scientific research in accordance with the principles of open science in the Regulation on the Implementation of Scientific Research Work in Accordance with the Principles of Open Science, adopted at the end of May 2023. The Regulation defines the implementation of scientific research activities in accordance with the principles of open science, including:

• Open access to research results within research funded from public sources, at least at the 50% level.
• Involvement of the interested public in scientific research (citizen science).
• Evaluation and assessment of researchers, research organizations, research programmes, and projects in accordance with the principles of open science.
• Open science infrastructure.