The newly released Principles of Open Science Monitoring outline a global framework for tracking and supporting Open Science practices through inclusive, transparent, and responsible monitoring approaches. Developed by the Open Science Monitoring Initiative (OSMI), the Principles were shaped by input from nearly 200 experts across six continents and aim to support governments, funders, institutions, and open infrastructure providers in designing tailored monitoring systems.
The framework emphasizes relevance, transparency, self-assessment, and sustainability. It calls for meaningful, accessible indicators across disciplines, open-source infrastructure, traceable methodologies, and culturally sensitive implementation strategies. The Principles also caution against using indicators to rank individuals and stress the importance of fostering a learning-focused environment.
OpenAIRE contributed to the consultation by drawing on its experience building open monitoring services such as the OpenAIRE Graph, MONITOR dashboards, Ireland’s National Open Access Monitor and the Open Science Observatory. It advocated for including research software as a recognized output, more explicit indicator definitions, and the role of AI in future monitoring systems.
The Principles are a foundation for national and international monitoring efforts and have already informed tools like the EOSC Open Science Observatory. OpenAIRE will continue supporting the initiative by participating in OSMI working groups and aligning its services with the published framework.
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