Open Science plays a crucial role in scientific advancement by proposing an inclusive and collaborative model for knowledge. In a context where sharing and accessibility are increasingly valued, this practice is fundamental to the progress of research.
However, what is the level of adherence to Open Science in Europe and, in particular, in Portugal?
According to a UNESCO report, the implementation of Open Science presents significant challenges and opportunities. Currently, around 46% of European scientific publications are open access, with Portugal slightly above this average at 50%. Despite this, the pace of uptake remains uneven, with countries such as Germany and France leading the way in terms of the percentage of open publications.
The role of services FCCN
In Portugal, institutions such as FCCN, FCT's digital services, support the expansion of Open Science through platforms, services and tools that promote the sharing of data and publications.
One example is RCAAP - described as "the national open access initiative" - which stores, preserves and promotes access to scientific knowledge produced in Portugal, increasing the visibility of the results of national academic and scientific activity.
b-on - Biblioteca do Conhecimento Online also works towards this mission by "guaranteeing access to thousands of scientific publications and electronic services to the national academic and scientific community". Similarly, the project INDEXAR - Digital Repositories of Knowledge, is a platform that aims to manage information on national digital repositories and journals in the areas of science, technology and culture.
A movement with several fronts
Over the last few years, FCCN 's work in the area of Open Science has gone beyond access to scientific articles or publications. More recent services and projects focus on other emerging areas within the Open Science universe, such as the management and sharing of research data.
The best example of this is Polen, a service that promotes the sharing and preservation of research data generated under publicly funded projects, and is therefore crucial to the work of researchers and scientists. In the same vein, the PTCRIS initiative has transformed the national scientific ecosystem in recent years, with a view to managing, producing and accessing reliable, complete and up-to-date information on national scientific activity.
Bearing in mind the importance of Open Science, which uses a digital infrastructure to facilitate the democratization of knowledge, accelerating innovation, FCCN, FCT's digital services also participates in various international initiatives and consortia working in this area. Examples include OpenAIRE, the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) and the Science Europe association.
Universal access, multiple added value
Open Science offers several benefits to the scientific community and society in general. These include facilitating cooperation between scientists from different fields and countries, speeding up solutions to complex problems.
On the other hand, by implementing Open Science principles, it becomes possible to guarantee greater equity in access to knowledge, increasing recognition of the work done by researchers and scientists. From this point of view, it is also a way of guaranteeing a close and transparent relationship between knowledge and society, making citizens trust science and its results more.
