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Irish departments and organisations have come together to support a more transparent and equitable research environment – launch of the National Framework on the Transition to an Open Research Environment

Last week, the Irish Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development, John Halligan launched the National Framework on the Transition to an Open Research Environment. This Framework was developed by the National Open Research Forum and acts as the foundation for a National Action Plan for the transition to an open research environment in Ireland. It is jointly supported by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Education and Skills and formally approved by the Innovation 2020 Implementation Group.  So far, four Government departments and 17 agencies and research organisations across Ireland have endorsed the Framework. The Health Research Board (HRB) is one of the agencies endorsing the National Framework, playing a central role in editing and coordinating the Framework.

HRB’s commitment to the National Framework

The HRB has a longstanding commitment to open research and is well on the path to not just endorsing the Framework but, implementing many of the principles described. The Framework places great emphasis on ‘Open publications’. The HRB already mandates open access for peer reviewed publications resulting from its funded research. Furthermore, the HRB Open Research publishing platform, launched in February 2018, is leading the way- offering an innovative approach in which HRB-grantees can publish their research in a transparent, timely and cost-effective manner. The platform allows a range of different article types to be published with an open peer review process, allowing researchers credit for all their different research outputs. The platform has published 40 articles and is growing, demonstrating that open publishing initiatives can be successful and effective.

The Framework also places emphasis on ‘Enabling FAIR research data’. The HRB is supporting the research community in enabling FAIR data, running a FAIR data pilot in collaboration with the Go-FAIR international team to build awareness amongst the research community of the FAIR Data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and to support effective data stewardship. Trained data stewards from HRB host institutions will be working with researchers from two separate funding calls to support FAIR data as a key output from the projects.

Other areas discussed within the Framework include ‘Infrastructures for access to and preservation of research’, ‘Skills and competencies’ and ‘Incentives and rewards’. The HRB signed the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) in October 2017, recognising the need to improve the ways in which the inputs to, and outputs of, our research are evaluated. Although the HRB has never guided reviewers to consider impact factors or H-index our processes now explicitly guide our reviewers on how to best assess the track record of the lead applicants and research team. The HRB is also a member of the Ensuring Value in Research Funders Forum. These are areas in which the HRB hopes to grow over the coming years to ensure that researchers have the necessary skills, recognitions and infrastructures to pursue best practice in the open science agenda.

Importance of Open Research in Ireland

There are many arguments as to why open research is crucial to ensure that impact is gained from research, including: greater access to scientific inputs and outputs can make the process more efficient; openness encourages quality and integrity of research findings; economic benefits can come from reduced duplication of efforts and new innovations; openness can create more public awareness of research which helps to build trust and support investment.

A coordinated national movement towards open research, as described in the Framework, will enhance and support research best practice across all disciplines, research integrity, and public trust in research. The Framework aligns Ireland’s open research environment with policies that are being implemented by the European Union and has the potential to transform the research landscape in Ireland, with clear benefits for society.

Driving Ireland’s open research agenda

Minister John Halligan, and members of the National Open Research Forum recently shared their views on the National Framework and the steps it is taking to embed open research in Ireland:

Minister John Halligan, Minister of State for Training and Skills, said: “Ireland has a world-class reputation for research and development. Key to achieving this is the drive and commitment to excellence and impact of all members of our research community, across all disciplines… The willingness and ability of Ireland’s research community to work together to address common challenges supports the delivery of our national research agenda.” (Quote from news piece by Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)

Patricia Clarke, HRB, and co-chair of the National Open Research Forum said: “The National Framework is a clear statement of intent by the Irish research community to take practical steps to embed open research in Ireland and …. ensure the research system as a whole moves in a common direction. I would like to encourage all members of the research community to actively engage with the NORF to deliver this Framework to ensure that Ireland stays to the forefront of this European and international cultural shift towards open research.” (Quote from news piece by Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)

Tim Conlon, Higher Education Authority and incoming co-chair of the NORF said: “Open research has the potential to transform the research landscape, with clear benefits for society, including greater public engagement and trust in research and enhancing research excellence and integrity, across all disciplines. It also calls for a culture change and the NORF is a good example of how key players in the higher education and research system can work together to bring about this change on a national level…..” (Quote from news piece by Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)

Next steps

The next stage for the National Open Research Forum is to develop a National Action Plan to ensure that the Framework’s recommendations can be achieved. This Plan will define objectives and indicators to measure progress; implementation plans, including the allocation of responsibilities; associated financial planning.