Opening-up European Universities Alliances: European enablers and inhibitors of open science practices in university research teams
Rubén Vicente-Saez
(Aalto University)
Antti Rousi
(Aalto University)
Anna Rovira-Fernàndez
(Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - Barcelona Tech)
Maria H. Ribeiro
(University of Lisbon)
Short abstract
The purpose of this study is to understand European enablers and inhibitors in the adoption of open science practices in university research teams. Our results provide directions on how renew European, national, and university-level open science policies, funding programmes, and services.
Long abstract
Open science practices led to the development of European, national, and university-level initiatives, policies, and funding mandates during the last decade. However, there is a lack of empirical studies investigating how these open science policies, programmes, and actions have affected and impacted the everyday work of university researchers. The purpose of this study is to understand and identify European enablers and inhibitors in the adoption of open science practices in university research teams. We conducted a cross-country qualitative comparative case study of 70 research teams from across 7 European Universities, at the newly established European University Alliance: Unite!. Our research shows how the development of research collaborative networks for the sharing and production of knowledge, capacity building for an open science mindset, data management, and novel knowledge-broker competencies and skills, transnational collaboration in significant infrastructures or digital services are key enablers in the adoption. Our research also reveals inhibitors encountered in university research teams that are intrinsic in the lack of alignment among university, national and European guidelines and standards, the costs associated with open science, the lack of incentives at university-level and national research assessment, and the harmonisation among open science and innovation policies. Our results provide insights and directions on how to shape, rethink, and renew university, national, and European level open science policies, funding programmes, and university services to ensure a successful transition from modern science to open science in Europe by 2030. Moreover, we contribute by expanding the academic foundations on open science management and policy.
Accepted Paper
Short abstract
Long abstract
Open science practices led to the development of European, national, and university-level initiatives, policies, and funding mandates during the last decade. However, there is a lack of empirical studies investigating how these open science policies, programmes, and actions have affected and impacted the everyday work of university researchers. The purpose of this study is to understand and identify European enablers and inhibitors in the adoption of open science practices in university research teams. We conducted a cross-country qualitative comparative case study of 70 research teams from across 7 European Universities, at the newly established European University Alliance: Unite!. Our research shows how the development of research collaborative networks for the sharing and production of knowledge, capacity building for an open science mindset, data management, and novel knowledge-broker competencies and skills, transnational collaboration in significant infrastructures or digital services are key enablers in the adoption. Our research also reveals inhibitors encountered in university research teams that are intrinsic in the lack of alignment among university, national and European guidelines and standards, the costs associated with open science, the lack of incentives at university-level and national research assessment, and the harmonisation among open science and innovation policies. Our results provide insights and directions on how to shape, rethink, and renew university, national, and European level open science policies, funding programmes, and university services to ensure a successful transition from modern science to open science in Europe by 2030. Moreover, we contribute by expanding the academic foundations on open science management and policy.
Cultures of openness: enabling & measuring the impacts of open science
Session 1 Monday 30 June, 2025, -