Publicly funded research data to be opened

Valuable information produced by researchers in many EU-funded projects will be shared freely as a result of a pilot on Open Research Data in Horizon 2020.

Researchers in projects participating in the pilot are asked to make the underlying data needed to validate the results presented in scientific publications and other scientific information available for use by other researchers, innovative industries and citizens.

This will lead to better and more efficient science and improved transparency for citizens and society. It will also contribute to economic growth through open innovation. For 2014-2015, topic areas participating in the Open Research Data pilot will receive funding of around €3bn.

The pilot involves future and emerging technologies, research infrastructures, information and communication technologies, secure, clean and efficient energy – part smart cities and communities – climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials, Europe in a changing world – inclusive, innovative and reflective societies, and science with and for society.

Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission for the Digital Agenda said “We know that sharing and re-using research data holds huge potential for science, society and the economy. This Pilot is an opportunity to see how different disciplines share data in practice and to understand remaining obstacles.”

The pilot will give the Commission a better understanding of what supporting infrastructure is needed and of the impact of limiting factors such as security, privacy or data protection or other reasons for projects opting out of sharing. It will also contribute insights in how best to create incentives for researchers to manage and share their research data.

The pilot will be monitored throughout Horizon 2020 with a view to developing future Commission policy and EU research funding programmes.