Open Science and Research Inititative (2014-2017) was a project of Ministry of Education and Culture, which developed important guidelines for promoting Finnish open science. The Inititative was based on extensive cooperation between ministries, universities, research institutes and research funders.
Roadmap of Open Science and Research
The purpose of the Initiative was to promote science and research by making them more open and increase their social impact by improving the management and use of research-generated information. Its goal was that by 2017 Finland would have become one of the leading countries in open science and research and that the possibilities of open science and research would be in extensive use in Finnish society.
The roadmap was meant as a guideline for Finnish researchers, research groups, research organizations, decision-makers, funders and citizens to promote the conditions, use and practical application of open science and research in 2014-2017.
The roadmap is a plan for the strategic level of Finnish open science and research that describes activities geared towards change, development and creation. The roadmap is meant to be specified and supplemented, and its purpose is not to set all future developments in stone. When various surveys clarify the national and international situation, the accuracy of the roadmap will increase, plans will become more precise and the focus will become clearer.
The Open Science and Research Handbook
The Initiative prepared a manual for researchers, research groups, research organizations, decision-makers and funders, and citizens to help the use and promotion of open science and research.
Open science and research increases the social impact of scientific activity. Open science and research increases the competitiveness and quality of the Finnish research system and promotes the reliability and transparency of research. Open science and research inspires and opens up opportunities for participation in scientific research and application of research results. Finland's goal is to be one of the leading countries in open science and research and its applications. This will be achieved by implementing the principles of openness so that the research process accelerates and improves and the impact of research increases. This requires extensive involvement of the research community and internalisation of the new approach.
Impact Assessment of the Open Science and Research Initiative
The objective of the external evaluation commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Culture was to identify the national and international impact of the Open Science and Research Initiative.
The Initiative was evaluated by Lauri Tuomi (CEO, Profitmakers Oy) and the evaluation was carried out between June and November 2016.
Evaluation of Openness in the Activities of Research Institutions and Research Funding Organisations
The aim of the evaluation was to map the state of universities, research institutes, university hospitals and research funders in their consideration and support of open science and research, to identify strengths and weaknesses in promoting transparency, and to identify areas requiring further development.
