Open science
Open science is an umbrella term for a range of ideas and practices aimed at making research more transparent and easier to access and reuse.
An open research process primarily concerns scientific texts, results, and data, but it can also mean that the process itself – from start to finish – is open. This could include making notes, logbooks, data management plans, and other materials accessible to provide insight into the data, the researcher’s working methods, and the considerations made during the research process.
Why should research data be openly accessible?
Open science and accessible research data are important for several reasons. One of the most fundamental is that research results must be reproducible. When research data and methods are openly accessible, other researchers can review and validate the findings.
Open access to data and research results also allows researchers to build on one another’s work. When data are available to everyone, researchers from different disciplines and parts of the world can collaborate more effectively. Open science fosters a culture of sharing, which is crucial for tackling global challenges such as climate change and pandemics.
A significant part of research today is publicly funded, which provides an argument for making the results available to the public. Transparency enhances accountability in research and strengthens public understanding of science and its value to society.
A scientific transition – globally and locally
The EU has been a key driver in the transition towards a more open scientific system, and the European Council has adopted several conclusions addressing various aspects of open science. The EU actively supports its member states through a number of initiatives, such as the Horizon Europe framework programme. Within the European Research Area (ERA), open science continues to be a priority. On a global level, UNESCO has also issued recommendations on open science.
In Sweden, the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet, VR) has been tasked with coordinating, monitoring, and promoting collaboration in the transition to open access to research data. The guiding principle in this work is that access to research data should be made “as open as possible, as restricted as necessary.”
Read more about VR’s work on open access to research data, including annual reports on Sweden’s progress towards open access: Open access to research dataOpens in a new tab (VR.se).
The National Library of Sweden (Kungliga biblioteket, KB) has a national mandate to coordinate open access to scholarly publications. On behalf of the Swedish government, KB has also developed national guidelines to promote open science, covering areas such as scholarly publications, research data, and research methods.
For more information about KB’s guidelines and work with open science, see National guidelines for promoting open science in SwedenOpens in a new tab (KB.se).
In 2022, the Swedish so-called Open Data Law governing accessibility to public sector data (Lag (2022:818) om den offentliga sektorns tillgängliggörande av data) came into force. It regulates how and in what format research data should be made accessible, and to what extent researchers can impose conditions on data reuse. For example, researchers are not permitted to make data available only to trusted colleagues or selected collaborators; data should be made as openly accessible as possible.
As an initiative to bring together the most relevant information for Sweden's transition to an open science system, SUHF, the National Library of Sweden, and SND have developed the website Openscience.seOpens in a new tab. The purpose of this site is to make it easier to gain an overview, navigate, and carry out practical work in open science.
SND – a key player in the transition to open science
The Swedish Research Council supports several Swedish organizations working towards open and accessible data, including SND, which is a key actor in the field. SND has been promoting access to research data since 1981.
The current form of SND was established in 2009. It is governed by a consortium of nine universities with the primary mission of ensuring the accessibility, preservation, and reuse of research data and related materials. SND has since grown into a strong national network of nearly 40 universities and research organisations, forming the backbone of Sweden's research data infrastructure. Together, this network is driving the transition to open access to research data at both national and local levels.
Find out more about how SND supports researchers with data management throughout the research process at SND.seOpens in a new tab.
Researchdata.se – a national platform for research data
The ambition to make data as open and accessible as possible has been the driving force behind SND’s development of a national research data portal. Through Researchdata.se, SND and its partner organisations support researchers in finding, sharing, and managing data, ensuring that data can be interpreted and reused both in the short and long term. A key part of this work is to meet the FAIR principles for research data: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.
The transition to open science is taking place at both global and local levels. Scientific journals, public and private funders, university policies, and legislation already require that research data be made accessible. For researchers, this development offers an opportunity to increase the visibility, credibility, and impact of their work while ensuring continued funding for research that benefits society.