OPUS impact through 3 years of project activities

• September 2, 2025

From the outset, OPUS set out to reform researcher assessment by expanding beyond traditional publication metrics and recognising the full spectrum of scholarly contributions, especially those rooted in open science principles. The main pillar of this effort has been the OPUS Researcher Assessment Framework, a set of qualitative and quantitative indicators co-designed and tested by three research performing organisations and two research funding organisations. By engaging these pilots in iterative mutual-learning exercises and action planning, OPUS ensured that its framework was not a theoretical construct but a practical tool tailored to institutional realities.

Parallel to the framework development, OPUS introduced the Open Science Career Assessment Matrix 2, an instrument designed to reward practices such as early data sharing, transparent peer review and much more, enabling researchers to see their open science efforts reflected in career progression decisions. Through workshops on gender equality in assessment, data management plan training, and industry-academic collaboration seminars, OPUS equipped over 1000 participants with the knowledge and resources needed to adopt these novel assessment criteria.

Key exploitable results, six in total, were identified and published under Creative Commons licences on Zenodo and the Open Research Europe platform. These include the Researcher Assessment Framework itself, the interventions guide for implementing the framework, final action plans from pilot institutions, the outcomes of mutual-learning sessions, a comprehensive policy brief on embedding open science in institutional strategy, and the refined assessment matrix. Collectively these resources have amassed over 1,500 views and downloads, ensuring that they are readily available for any organisation seeking to modernise its evaluation processes.

Researchers stand to benefit from OPUS in several ways. Firstly, the framework and matrix provide clear, validated criteria for open science activities, allowing individuals to demonstrate their contributions beyond publications and citation counts. Secondly, the pilot institutions now possess tailored action plans and institutional buy-in, meaning that early adopters can draw on lived experiences and case studies when advocating for change in their own organisations. Thirdly, the wealth of training materials, recorded interviews and policy briefs serve as ready-to-use resources for research managers, funders and policymakers looking to embed open science incentives into evaluation systems.

Moreover, OPUS’s extensive network of over 150 open science experts, 36 Horizon Europe projects and 34 related networks represents a vibrant community ready to share best practices, troubleshoot implementation challenges and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. The project website is offering researchers ongoing support as they navigate the evolving landscape of open science and responsible assessment.

The OPUS project has achieved much more than simply meeting its targets across dissemination, communication and exploitation activities. Over the course of three years, OPUS organised seven major events instead of the six originally planned, produced twenty publications where ten had been expected, and delivered over thirty presentations against a target of nine. Its digital footprint expanded dramatically with the project website attracting an average of 2,420 page views per month rather than the projected 750, its combined LinkedIn and Twitter following soaring to 2,900 from an initial goal of 500, and its newsletters reaching 348 readers per issue rather than 200. Equally impressive have been the training and public engagement outcomes, with fifty-four workshops delivered in place of nine, sixteen public meetings held instead of five, and twenty-nine interviews recorded rather than ten. These figures alone illustrate a project that has excelled quantitatively, but OPUS’s real success lies in the depth of its impact on open science practices and researcher evaluation across Europe.

In short, OPUS has laid a durable foundation for research assessment reform. Its practical tools, verified by real-world pilots, and the extensive guidance it offers, empower individual researchers and institutions alike to embrace openness, transparency and equity in scholarly evaluation. As the project’s six key exploitable results remain freely accessible, the legacy of OPUS will continue to influence research culture long after its formal conclusion, ensuring that open science practices are recognised, rewarded and sustained across Europe and beyond.