Open Science Conference

Open Science is a key priority of the Dutch Presidency. The Netherlands is committed to open access to scientific publications and the best possible re-use of research data, and it would like to accelerate the transition this requires.

Open Science

Open Science involves transitioning from a system in which it is difficult to access and locate the results of scientific research to one that openly distributes results to all kinds of end users, such as researchers, knowledge institutions, companies, patient organisations, teachers, students, farmers and members of the public.

There are many initiatives and activities in the field of Open Science. In and of themselves, however, they cannot bring about the changes that are needed. By working together, joining forces and setting priorities for action, the Netherlands hopes to genuinely accelerate the transition to Open Science, especially in terms of open access to scientific articles that are published internationally and the optimal, responsible re-use of scientific data.

At European level, an Open Science Agenda is being developed which will set out areas of specific action agreed by the European Commission and member states. Preparations are also under way to set up an Open Science Policy Platform that will be tasked with fleshing out the agenda.

Goals and target groups

At this Presidency conference member states and stakeholders can emphasise the importance of this transition. They will also launch the Open Science Policy Platform and draft a joint action agenda. The invitees will include politicians and officials, and stakeholders from Europe, such as researchers, publishers, representatives of universities and research organisations, and organisations and companies that support research. In addition, there will be an explicit focus on new users of scientific information. The idea is to share the findings of this conference with stakeholders, the Open Science Policy Platform and the European Ministers for research and innovation at the meeting of the Competitiveness Council being held in Brussels on 26 and 27 May 2016.

Programme

The participants will be welcomed on 4 April this year by the State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science, Sander Dekker. European Commissioner Carlos Moedas and other speakers will outline their vision of the importance of Open Science to Europe and the opportunities it presents. Stakeholders in and users of scientific research, as well as researchers, will hold discussions with one another. The Open Science Policy Platform will be launched at the end of the day and a conference dinner will be held at Science Center NEMO.

On 5 April the focus will be on drafting an action agenda that contains specific action items. We will conclude the programme by looking ahead to the future, giving young researchers in particular the opportunity to have their say.
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