Open Science in Horizon Europe

Open Science (OS) fosters systematic sharing of knowledge and tools as early and widely as possible in the research process. Open Science practices include, among others, early and open sharing of research, management of and open access to research outputs (e.g. scientific publications, data, software, protocols, electronic notebooks), measures to ensure reproducibility of outputs, and participation in open peer-review. In Horizon Europe proposals, this involves mandatory practices and recommended practices.

Mandatory Open Science practices

Mandatory Open Science practices are required through the Model Grant Agreement, the work programme and/or call conditions, and include:

• Open Access to peer-reviewed scientific publications
• Responsible management of research data in line with FAIR principles (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Re-usability) through the generalised use of Data Management Plan (DMP) and open access to research data under the principle ‘as open as possible, as closed as necessary’
• Information about research outputs, tools and instruments needed to validate the conclusions of scientific publications or to validate/re-used research data;
• Digital or physical access to the results needed to validate the conclusions of scientific publications, unless exceptions apply
• In cases of public emergency, the granting authority can request immediate open access to all research outputs under open licenses. If exceptions apply, access under fair and reasonable conditions must be granted to legal entities that need the research outputs to address the public emergency.
• Specific work programmes or call conditions may introduce additional mandatory Open Science practices.

Recommended Open Science practices

Recommended Open Science practices are incentivised in the evaluation of the proposal and include, among others:

• Involving all relevant knowledge actors (citizens, civil society, end-users) in co-creation of research agendas and contents
• Early and open sharing of research (for example through preregistration, registered reports or pre-prints)
• Research output management beyond peer-reviewed publications and research data

Evaluation of Open Science in Horizon Europe proposals

Open Science has been included in the evaluation criteria for Horizon Europe proposals:

• Under the excellence criterion (1.2 methodology), applicants have to provide information on how the plan to comply with mandatory Open Science practices. Explanations on how recommended Open Science practices are adopted is strongly encouraged. If applicants consider that no Open Science practices apply to their project, they have to provide a justification.
• Under the quality and efficiency of implementation criterion (3.2 capacity of participants and consortium as a whole), the relevant disciplinary and inter-disciplinary expertise within the consortium has to be explained.
• In part A of the proposal, listed publications are expected to be open access and datasets are expected to comply with the principles ‘as open as possible, as closed as necessary’ and FAIR-principles.

Exception: in the ERC programme, Open Science is not included in the evaluation.

Resources for detailed information:

• Horizon Europe programme guide, p.42-57,
• Horizon Europe General Model Grant Agreement (MGA) article 17
• Horizon Europe Annotated Model Grant Agreement (AGA) annex 5
• European Commission webinar on Horizon Europe cross-cutting aspects, more specifically the open science part (April 2021)
• Factsheet providing a summary on Open Science in Horizon Europe.
• DMP template
• ERC guidance Open Research Data and Data Management Plans (April 2022)
• ERC ‘Study on the readiness of research data and literature repositories to facilitate compliance with the Open Science Horizon Europe MGA requirements’ (March 2023)
• Webinar explaining Open Research Europe (ORE)(2021)

If you would like to learn more about the development of Open Science requirements throughout the framework programmes and explore past calls related to Open Science, please consult the attached document.