Open and Universal Science (OPUS)

an EU funded project implemented by 18 organisations consortium

Reforming How Researchers Are Assessed

The OPUS project is an EU-funded project implemented by an eighteen-organisations consortium led by The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN). The main goal was to develop coordination and support measures to reform the assessment of research(ers), along with the following:

OPUS has been running since 1 September 2022 and is set to conclude on 31 August 2025.

OPUS has developed a Researcher Assessment Framework and a set of interventions for Open Science, aiming to build a system that incentivises and rewards researchers for adopting practices such as open access to research outputs, early and open sharing of research, participation in open peer review, ensuring the reproducibility of results, and engaging all stakeholders in co-creation.

Four Key Project Pillars

Researchers Assessment Framework

Developed a Researcher Assessment Framework (RAF) to recognise the wide diversity of activities conducted by researchers, developed an Open Science Career Assessment Matrix (OSCAM2) to incentivise and reward Open Science practices by researchers, and supported the pilot organisations.

Interventions for Open Science

OPUS developed interventions for Research Performing Organisations (RPOs) and Research Funding Organisations (RFOs) to implement a reformed research(er) assessment system that incentivises and rewards Open Science.

Pilots to Implement and Monitor Open Science

OPUS set up, implemented, and monitored the pilots’ Open Science practices in three RPOs and two RFOs, and conducted mutual learning exercises based on the implementation of the action plans.

Policy Brief

OPUS is finalising policy briefs on Open Science and a revised OS-CAM for assessing research careers, which will be disseminated to key stakeholders. The policy briefs summarise the key findings of the project and link them to the wider global context of Open Science.

Key OPUS Activities | Work Packages

#1: State-of-the-Art on an Open Science Ecosystem

We reviewed existing literature and identified key experts, initiatives, and networks related to research assessment and Open Science (including creating a database of over 150 experts, identifying 36 relevant Horizon Europe projects, and mapping 34 relevant networks for the project).

The initiatives include key (1) projects, (2) experts and organisations, (3) networks and schemes.

The literature reviews focused on (1) research(er) assessment, (2) incentives and rewards, (3) precarity of research careers, (4) gender equality, (5) industry practices.

LEAD: RESOLVO.eu

See more here!

#2: Interventions for Open Science

We developed interventions for RPOs and RFOs to implement a reformed research(er) assessment system and supported RPOs and RFOs in implementing the RAF and OSCAM2, focusing on the policies, resources, awareness-raising, and training required for implementation. These interventions were tested by pilot RPOs and RFOs in Activity #4 (WP4).

We also conducted a baseline audit of the interventions tested in the pilots, co-monitored and evaluated them in collaboration with the pilot RPOs and RFOs, and subsequently developed a final set of interventions for Open Science at RPOs and RFOs.

LEAD: CRAC-Vitae

#3: Researchers Assessment Framework

OPUS developed a Researcher Assessment Framework (RAF) to recognise the wide diversity of activities conducted by researchers, developed an Open Science Career Assessment Matrix (OSCAM2) to incentivise and reward Open Science practices by researchers, and supported the pilot organisations.

This framework moves beyond traditional metrics such as publication counts and journal impact factors, instead offering a balanced and inclusive Researcher Assessment Framework (RAF) that formally recognises Open Science practices.

LEAD: TECHNOPOLIS CONSULTING GROUP BELGIUM

#4: Pilots to Implement and Monitor Open Science

The OPUS project developed and implemented a set of Final Action Plans to drive the adoption of Open Science (OS) across diverse institutional contexts and to implement the RAF within the OPUS pilots (three RPOs and two RFOs). It also conducted mutual learning exercises based on the implementation of these action plans, which in practice involved:

  • Establishing a Pilot Committee composed of project partners (UNL, ABIS, JISC, RCL, RESOLVO SRL, TGB, TrustInside, UCY, UEFISCDI, UNIRI, VU, YERUN) to coordinate across the pilots; and

  • Forming a Mutual Learning Group consisting of pilot RPOs and RFOs, along with experts, to support and reflect on the pilots (UEFISCDI, JISC, RCL, TGB, TrustInside, UCY, UNIRI, UNL, VU, YERUN).

LEAD: YERUN

 

#5: Policy Briefs on Open Science

OPUS developed policy briefs on Open Science and OSCAM2 to assess research careers.

As a significant output of the OPUS project, the Final Policy Brief serves as a comprehensive guide to policymakers, science managers, and other institutional leaders, presenting key lessons learnt and policy advice to support the uptake of Open Science practices at the institutional and individual researcher’s levels.

The revised OSCAM provides a concrete researchers assessment framework to evaluate researchers at RPOs and RFOs.

LEAD: UNESCO

#6: Project Coordination & Data Management

The OPUS Project Coordinator – PLOCAN ensured the coordination and data management of the project. This specifically involved developing all plans and reports related to project coordination and data management, and ensuring that all partners collectively contributed to the successful implementation of the project. Some of the activities included:

  • Establishing a Consortium Agreement

  • Coordinating and managing all project activities, the internal and external flow of information, the provision of deliverables, and the implementation of risk mitigation strategies

Project Coordinator: PLOCAN

#7: Dissemination, Communication&Exploitation

OPUS Project team developed a Dissemination & Communications plan with strategic and targeted measures for promoting the Open Science and project results and inform key stakeholders and the public.

OPUS Project team managed communication and dissemination activities to promote the project, progress of the project, and project key exploitable results for societal and scientific purposes.

LEAD: ICoRSA

Project Consortium

All 18 organisations implementing the OPUS project are active at the European level spanning the whole spectrum of Open Science.

Advisory Board

The advisory board of the OPUS project is composed of prominent figures in the fields of research policy, open science, and higher education. It includes representatives from leading universities and science organizations across Europe, each bringing a wealth of experience in academic leadership and research initiatives.

Organisation Name Position
European University Association Amanda Crowfoot Secretary General
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid Eva M. Mendez Rodriguez Deputy Vice-president for Research Policies
Vrije Universiteit Brussel Jean-Claude Burgelman Professor of Open Science
Science Europe James Morris Senior Policy Officer
French ministry for higher education, research and innovation / EOSC Volker Beckmann Program Manager
Stockholm University Wilhelm Widmark Library Director
Leiden University Barend Mons Scientific director, International office GO FAIR
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