NWO opens new fund to stimulate Open Science

NWO is launching the ‘Open Science Fund’, a new funding instrument intended to give Open Science a boost. Projects can be financially supported through the programme in the broad field of Open Science. Examples include projects aimed at developing innovative ways of (open access) publishing, the FAIR sharing of data or software, and projects that help bring about the necessary culture change. The Open Science Fund is a new tool for recognising and rewarding researchers for open research practices.

The Open Science Fund is open to researchers from all fields of research. The aim is to support researchers in developing, testing and implementing innovative ways of making research open, accessible, transparent and reusable across the full breadth of Open Science. One million euros will be available in the first round for projects of up to 50,000 euros. The Open Science Fund is an important next step in recognising and rewarding open research practices.

NWO has been promoting the transition to Open Science for a long time now. All publications funded by NWO must therefore be available through open access. Research data generated during NWO projects must be made available as openly as possible too.

The Open Science Fund was launched on 1 December 2020. The first allocations are expected to take place in the summer of 2021.