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Paris, July 9-10, 2025
The OPUS (Open and Universal Science Project) Consortium will hold its Final Conference at the UNESCO International Institute of Educational Planning (IIEP) in Paris, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss the future of Open Science and responsible research practices in Europe.
The two-day conference will showcase the main outcomes and key exploitable results of the OPUS project, with experts, policymakers, and research organisations exploring how Open Science policies can be effectively implemented at institutional and national levels. Online participation will be available via Zoom.
Venue: UNESCO International Institute of Educational Planning (IIEP) 7–9 rue Eugène-Delacroix, 75116 Paris, France
As OPUS aims to transform research assessment, the conference will feature a detailed presentation of the project’s approach to incentivising and rewarding Open Science practices. Key highlights include new assessment indicators, real-world pilot implementations, and impactful interventions at Research Performing Organisations (RPOs) and Research Funding Organisations (RFOs).
AGENDA
Day 1 – 9 July 2025
09:00 – 09:30
Registration of Participants
09:30 – 10:00
Welcome Remarks
Corina Moya-Falcón, OPUS Coordinator, PLOCAN
Gustavo Merino, Director, UNESCO Social Policies Division
Rinske Van Den Berg, REA Project Officer
10:00 – 12:40
OPUS Project: Main Outcomes and Key Exploitable Results
Presentation of OPUS outcomes, including the Research Assessment Framework (RAF) and key learnings for RFOs and RPOs.
10:00 – 10:30
OPUS Researcher Assessment Framework (RAF)
Gareth O’Neill (TGB) & Emma Day (Vitae)
10:30 – 12:40
Pilot Action and Mutual Learning
10:30 – 10:40 – Introduction: Raquel Vega (YERUN) & Helen Clare (JISC)
10:40 – 10:55 – UEFISCDI Pilot Action (Romania)
10:55 – 11:10 – Research Council of Lithuania (RCL) Pilot Action
11:10 – 11:40 – Coffee Break
11:40 – 11:55 – University Nova of Lisbon (UNL) Pilot Action
11:55 – 12:10 – University of Rijeka (UNIRI) Pilot Action
12:10 – 12:25 – University of Cyprus (UCY) Pilot Action
12:25 – 12:40 – Beyond the Project: PLOCAN Pilot Action – Corina Moya-Falcón
12:40 – 14:00
Lunch Break
14:00 – 14:15
Lessons Learned: Supporting OS Policies at Institutional Level
OPUS Policy Brief – Juliana Chaves Chaparro, Senior Consultant, UNESCO MOST
14:15 – 15:45
Panel Discussion: Research Assessment and Open Science
Led by Gareth O’Neill, OPUS Scientific Coordinator (TGB)
15:45 – 16:00
Wrap-up, Highlights, and Closing Remarks
Lamine Diagne, UNESCO MOST Section
Rinske Van Den Berg, REA & EC Policy Officer
Corina Moya-Falcón, OPUS Coordinator, PLOCAN
16:00
Networking & Cocktail Reception
Optional: Tour and Dinner
Day 2 – 10 July 2025
10:00 – 12:30
Final Project Meeting (OPUS Partners Only)
Wrap-up on the project and next steps
Moderated by Corina Moya-Falcón (PLOCAN) & Francesca Pratesi (Resolvo)
Key Themes & Topics
1. Assessing Researchers and Incentivising Open Science
OPUS introduces a set of indicators and metrics that monitor and encourage the adoption of Open Science. Topics will include open access to research outputs, early and open sharing, open peer review, reproducibility, and stakeholder engagement.
2. The Generic Researcher Assessment Framework (RAF)
This framework provides a holistic evaluation system for researchers based on four key categories: Proposal Development, Methods Development, Research Outputs, and Research Impact. It focuses on Open Science contributions and offers a comprehensive system for researcher assessment.
3. Piloting Research Assessment Reforms
The conference will showcase real-world experiences from OPUS pilot programs at three RPOs (Nova University of Lisbon, University of Cyprus, and University of Rijeka) and two RFOs (UEFISCDI in Romania and the Research Council of Lithuania). These pilots, running from January 2024 to June 2025, assess the effectiveness of new metrics and methodologies.
4. Interventions for Open Science Adoption
OPUS has created a series of interventions, including policy changes, resource allocation, repository development, awareness campaigns, and training programs. The impact of these initiatives on fostering Open Science cultures will be evaluated within pilot organisations.
5. Current Progress & Future Steps
As OPUS nears its conclusion in August 2025, the conference will offer insights into the ongoing implementation of Open Science reforms, the development of updated Open Science indicators, and the creation of the Open Science Career Assessment Matrix (OS-CAM2). Policy briefs and recommendations aimed at integrating Open Science into mainstream research assessment practices will also be discussed.
Project Consortium
All 18 organisations implementing the OPUS project are active at the European level spanning the whole spectrum of Open Science.
