OPUS at the Policy Forum of the Unite! Widening project

• May 23, 2025

Saša Zelenika, a distinguished representative of the University of Rijeka’s University Centre for Research and Innovation, one of the OPUS pilot organisations, represented the OPUS project at the Unite! Widening Project Open Science Policy Forum. The event, held online on May 22, 2025, gathered academic leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across Europe to advance the vision of a unified European Open Science and Innovation Area.

A Forum for Bridging Widening and Non-Widening Countries

The Policy Forum, organised (under Work Package 2, Task 2.5) by the Unite! Widening project and co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme (grant agreement No 101136765), brought together representatives from leading EU university alliances, including EELISA, ENHANCE, ENLIGHT, EUGLOH, PIONEER, T4EU, UNITE!, and YUFE. The primary aim was to foster collaboration and share best practices between “Widening” countries, those with less established research infrastructures—and their more research-intensive counterparts.

Showcasing the OPUS Project

During the session dedicated to sharing best practices, Saša Zelenika introduced the OPUS project, highlighting its contributions to open science policy and innovation at the University of Rijeka and within the YUFE Alliance. Zelenika emphasised the project’s alignment with the Unite! Widening White Paper’s strategic objectives, particularly in renewing university open science policies, reforming reward systems, and promoting transdisciplinary support services.

Key Themes and Discussions

The forum’s agenda featured a series of presentations and panel discussions moderated by leading figures in European research and innovation. Participants explored:

• The renewal of university open science policies and the development of robust implementation and evaluation frameworks.
• The reform of university reward systems to better recognize open science and innovation.
• The promotion of transdisciplinary open science support services.
• The integration of open science competencies at all levels of university education.
• The enhancement of digital and physical research infrastructures for greater interoperability and accessibility.

Zelenika’s presentation on the OPUS project was particularly noted for its actionable insights and its potential as a model for other universities in Widening countries.

Empowering the Next Generation

A special segment of the forum was dedicated to key messages from Unite! Open Science students and early-career researchers (ECRs), underscoring the importance of engaging the next generation in shaping Europe’s open science landscape.

Looking Ahead

In his closing remarks, Rubén Vicente-Sáez, Widening Open Science Task Leader at Aalto University, praised the collaborative spirit of the forum and reaffirmed the commitment of all participating alliances to drive the transition toward open science across Europe.

The Unite! Widening Project Open Science Policy Forum marked a significant step in building bridges between European universities and accelerating the operationalisation of open science, with the OPUS project contributions standing out as one of the highlights of this year’s event.