The SPOZNAJ Project will introduce the principles of open science to Slovenian research organisations

2nd August 2023 marks the beginning of the project "SPOZNAJ - Support for the Implementation of Open Science Principles in Slovenia". This initiative involves the Central Technical Library at the University of Ljubljana and 20 Slovenian public research organizations, all of which will align their practices with the Scientific Research and Innovation Activities Act, the Regulation on the Implementation of Scientific Research in Alignment with the Principles of Open Science, and the practices and principles of open science within the European Research Area. Open science encompasses open access to research results, the adoption of responsible metrics for assessing the quality and impact of scientific research, and the engagement of citizens in scientific research activities. The project receives co-financing from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and the European Union – NextGenerationEU through the national Recovery and Resilience Plan. 

The project consortium consists of:  

• Central Technical Library at the University of Ljubljana as the project coordinator,   

• Agricultural Institute of Slovenia,  

• Educational Research Institute,  

• Geological Survey of Slovenia,  

• Institute for Ethnic Studies,  

• Institute for Hydraulic Research, Ljubljana,  

• Institute of Contemporary History,  

• "Jožef Stefan" Institute, 

• National Institute of Biology,  

• National Institute of Chemistry,  

• Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts,  

• Rudolfovo – Science and Technology Centre Novo mesto,  

• Science and Innovation Centre Pomurje,  

• Science and Research Centre Koper,  

• Slovenian Forestry Institute,  

• Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute,  

• Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia,  

• Faculty of Information Studies Novo mesto,  

• University of Ljubljana (under its umbrella, the Slovenian Social Sciences Data Archives coordinates one of the work packages),  

• University of Maribor (under its umbrella, the University Library Maribor coordinates one of the work packages) and  

• University of Primorska. 

The project's objective is to raise awareness, educate, and empower the consortium partners' staff by providing them with relevant knowledge and skills in open science. This includes developing educational materials, establishing support structures, and adapting the operational mechanisms of the consortium partners to align with the principles of open science. In addition to the consortium partners, the project aims to engage other significant stakeholders in scientific research activities, such as private research and higher education organizations, independent researchers, public agencies (ARIS, NAKVIS), other public institutions (e.g., Arnes, libraries), business entities, and the wider interested public. 

By the project's completion on 30th June 2026, the consortium will organize a minimum of 30 public lectures on current topics related to open science and four national events with international participation. It will also define the profiles of support experts specializing in open science and research data management, creating a catalogue of their competencies. Specialised training sessions will be conducted for initial specialists in this field, including consortium partners and other interested institutions. Support structures will be established to assist these specialists as they commence their activities. Educational materials on practical applications of open science principles, with an emphasis on research data management, will be prepared in both online and printed formats. Existing documents and processes at consortium partners will be evaluated, proposing formal bases of operation in line with the principles of open science, and pilot adjustments will be implemented. The project will strive to raise awareness about the significance of open science among professionals and the general public. 

The "SPOZNAJ" project is aligned with the broader European development of open science. Namely, open science has been identified by the European Union as a key measure in the Research and Innovation Pact for the period 2022–2024 and was also written into law with the revised Directive (EU) 2019/1024 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on open data and the re-use of public sector information. Slovenia has adapted to these new European guidelines by enacting the Scientific Research and Innovation Activities Act in 2021, adopting the Resolution on the Scientific Research and Innovation Strategy of Slovenia 2030 in 2022, and implementing the Regulation on the Implementation of Scientific Research in Alignment with the Principles of Open Science and the Action Plan for Open Science in 2023. These legislative acts mandate those engaged in scientific research activities to ensure open access to research results, practice responsible evaluation of research work, and involve citizens in research activities. 

 For further information about the "SPOZNAJ" project, please contact NOO.spoznaj@ctk.uni-lj.si.