The Confederation of Open Access Repositories (COAR) has proudly announced its endorsement of the Barcelona Declaration on Research Information, joining a growing list of organizations committed to fostering transparency, openness, and inclusivity in the research information landscape.
The Barcelona Declaration highlights the pressing need to address the biases and limitations inherent in current research assessment practices, which often rely on proprietary databases. These databases typically lack comprehensive coverage, especially of publications from smaller or non-commercial publishers and non-English language research, resulting in skewed analyses and inequitable incentives for researchers. By signing the Declaration, COAR reaffirms its dedication to driving fundamental changes in how research information is managed, shared, and utilized globally.
One of the central concerns outlined by the Declaration is the reliance on closed, proprietary systems that hinder the transparency and accessibility of research data. Such systems often exclude vast amounts of valuable research outputs, particularly those in non-English languages or published in less prominent journals, from being recognized in research assessments. This exclusion not only undermines the diversity of the scholarly ecosystem but also perpetuates biases that disadvantage many researchers.
• COAR and its fellow signatories advocate for a shift towards open research information by committing to four key principles:
• Openness by Default: Promoting open access to research information as the standard practice.
• Supporting Open Systems: Collaborating with services that enable and uphold open research data.
• Sustaining Open Infrastructures: Ensuring the long-term viability of infrastructures that support open access to research information.
• Collaborative Transition: Working together across the global research community to transition from closed to open research information systems.
Repositories play a vital role in the open science movement, serving as essential platforms for the preservation and dissemination of research outputs. With growing global emphasis on open science policies, repositories are increasingly required to house research data, articles, and other outputs. However, a significant challenge remains: repository metadata is often excluded from the major indexing services that influence research assessments, leading to the underrepresentation of these valuable resources.
To tackle this issue, COAR is spearheading initiatives to enhance repository metadata and improve their integration into international indexing systems. This effort includes working closely with the repository community, members, and partners to develop national and regional models that aggregate metadata from local repositories and deliver it to global indexing services. By doing so, COAR aims to ensure that the full breadth of scholarly research is recognized and valued in research assessments, regardless of language or publication venue.
By becoming a signatory of the Barcelona Declaration, COAR is taking a leadership role in advocating for an open, inclusive, and transparent research information landscape. The organization’s efforts will help to ensure that all research outputs, from all corners of the world, are given due recognition, thereby contributing to a more equitable and diverse scholarly ecosystem.
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