University of Groningen Secures Grant to Recognize and Reward Open Science

The University of Groningen has been awarded €50,000 by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) as part of the Open Science NL Recognising and Rewarding programme . This funding supports a national initiative to integrate open science principles into the recruitment and promotion policies of academic institutions across the Netherlands.

The University of Groningen’s project, Embedding Open Science in Institutional Rewards and Recognition, focuses on developing a comprehensive action plan to stimulate team science, FAIR data, and open education through institutional rewards and recognition policies. After establishing a project team and an academic advisory board, two pilot initiatives will be carried out over the course of the year-long project: one on incentivising FAIR data and software at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and the second on incentivising open education at the University College Groningen. These pilot initiatives will be implemented in a loop: Stakeholders will be engaged through workshops, meetings, and feedback sessions to conceptualize, test, and revise and refine hiring and promotion practices throughout the length of the project.

Prof Dr Joke Fleer, dean of the University College Groningen, says about the pilot: “Leading the development of Rewards and Recognition policies for Open Education allows us to value innovative teaching and knowledge-sharing practices, empowering staff to create accessible, impactful learning experiences that benefit both academia and society.”

Drawing on insights from these two pilots, a comprehensive action plan will be developed to integrate open science criteria into institutional policies, including steps to scale successful practices to other faculties within the institution. Outcomes from the pilots will also contribute to aligning university policies with national and international standards while fostering a culture that values collaboration, transparency, and innovation.

“This grant allows us to accelerate the integration of open science principles into the University of Groningen’s education and research culture. Our ultimate goal is to embed open science values into the very fabric of the university, shaping how we work and collaborate. With this funding, we can take significant steps toward achieving that vision more effectively and efficiently,” said Dr Ana Ranitovic, the UG’s Chief of Open Science.

The project is part of a broader €1.2 million funding programme from Open Science NL, designed to accelerate the adoption of open science practices within Dutch knowledge institutions. Open Science NL has awarded funding to 23 research institutions as part of this programme. The Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) in Leiden will coordinate these concurrent projects at the national level. This coordinated national effort will help make open science a norm in academic culture.