Following the gradual anchoring of open science principles in legislation at various levels, the conditions and requirements of funders – both international and Czech – are gradually changing. The British organisation Digital Curation Centre (DCC) is mapping these conditions in its Sherpa Juliet project at the international level. It is creating a database of policies and conditions of various funders, with a primary focus on open access publishing requirements and conditions related to research data, its management and archiving. Below are listed the open science requirements of the most relevant funders, with focus on national funders.
European Commission
The European Commission’s key instrument for funding research and development between 2020 and 2027 is the Horizon Europe programme ( successor to the similar previous Horizon 2020 programme), which aims to tackle climate change and help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals while boosting competitiveness and growth across the EU. Horizon Europe obliges all beneficiaries to ensure open access to scientific information (publications and data) and to comply with the principles of open science.
Horizont Europe
Information on communication and dissemination obligations is regulated by Model grant agreement annex 5 of the Agreement in ARTICLE 17 COMMUNICATION, DISSEMINATION AND VISIBILITY ((p. 110-112). See also Chapter 16 Open Science in Horizon Europe: Programme Guide (37-53). For basic orientation, there is an article at the OpenAire website – Guides for Researchers – Open Science in Horizon Europe proposal.
Open Access
The beneficiary must ensure open access to all scientific peer-reviewed publications (scientific articles and books) related to the project results. Specifically, it must ensure that, no later than the time of publication, a machine-readable version of the publication is deposited and promptly published in a trusted repository of scientific publications, and must be licensed under the latest version of the Creative Commons license in the CC-BY variant or equivalent; monographs and longer texts may be licensed under a more restrictive variant, prohibiting commercial use and derivation of the work.
Open access goals can be achieved by using a green or gold OA publishing model, but the cost of APC fees in hybrid journals is not an allowable project cost. The recipient must retain such copyrights in the results at least to the extent necessary to meet open access requirements.
Data management
The beneficiary undertakes to responsibly manage the research data generated by the project in accordance with the FAIR principles. They must comply with the following conditions:
- Establish a data management plan and update it regularly (minimum requirements are defined in the generic DMP template).
- Deposit data in a trusted repository as soon as possible.
- Ensure (through the repository) open access to the stored data in accordance with the principle of ‘as open as possible, as closed as necessary’.
- Specify (via the repository) what tools are needed to reuse or validate the data.
- The costs associated with the management of research data and making it available are eligible costs for the duration of the grant.
Open data
Where possible, the recipient must ensure open access to the stored data through the repository in which the data is stored. Access to the data must be provided under the latest available version of the Creative Commons Attribution International (CC-BY) public licence or equivalent.
Data should be shared according to the principle of “as open as possible, as closed as necessary”. Thus, data need not be shared, for example, if disclosure of the data:
- would compromise the legitimate interests of the recipient, e.g. commercial exploitation of the data; or
- would conflict with other conditions, e.g. data protection or intellectual property protection.
If the research data or part of it cannot be made available, the reasons must be explained in the DMP.
Trustworthy Repository
To ensure a long-term preservation of data, the recipient is required to store the data in a trustworthy repository, whether or not it is shared. The terms and conditions of a specific call may then specify whether this repository must be connected to the EOSC (European Open Science Cloud) infrastructure. Data should be deposited as soon as possible, in accordance with the deadlines set by the beneficiary in the data management plan.
Metadata
The recipient is obliged to provide (through the repository) open access to bibliographic information (metadata) that identifies and describes the deposited datasets. The metadata must be published under a Creative Common Public Domain (CC0, free work status) license or equivalent and must comply with FAIR principles (in particular, be machine-readable).
Horizont 2020
Horizon 2020 (H2020) was the European Commission’s main framework programme to support science, research and innovation for the period 2014-2020. In the 7th Framework Programme, the European Commission piloted an open access obligation for scientific publications in selected areas. H2020 builds on this previous programme with a full open access obligation. An open access obligation for research data has also been piloted and applies to all H2020 participants from 2017.
The obligation to ensure open access is stated in the H2020 core documents:
Regulation (EU) No 1290/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, article 43
Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, article 18
The obligation of open access to research data under H2020 is specified in Article 29.3 of the Model grant agreement.
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports
Scientific data collected within the MEYS programmes should be shared where possible. In relation to research data, the principle of “as open as possible, as closed as necessary” is applied. More detailed requirements differ from call to call and are defined in the specifications for each programme.
The Johannes Amos Comenius Programme (OP JAK)
The Johannes Amos Comenius Programme is a programme financed from European Union structural funds in the programme period 2021–2027. One of the three priorities and goals of the programme is support of research and development and the associated development of high-level capacity.
The implementation of open science as an approach to a scientific process based on open co-operation and the effective dissemination of knowledge is mandatory in Call 02_22_008 Cutting-edge Research. In accordance with this concept, the applicant/recipient is obliged, first and foremost, to ensure:
- open access to scientific publications that are the result of research financed within the scope of the programme;
- the management of research data (including data on which scientific publications are based) in accordance with FAIR principles;
- open access to this data in accordance with the principle “as open as possible, as closed as necessary”.
The applicant/recipient is recommended to apply further supplementary approaches of open science within the project and this will be considered in a positive light within the scope of the material evaluation of the project.
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports has issued a Guide to Approaches to Open Science for the purposes of this call and for other purposes.
For easier fulfilment of the project applications of applicants from units of the Czech Academy of Sciences, two documents have been elaborated (in Czech):
National Recovery and Resilience Plan – The Exceles Programme
The EXCELES programme is an implementation tool for part (5.1 Excellent Research and Development in the Health Sector) of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The following are required of applicants:
- data administration – the submission of a data management plan in each interim (and final) report,
- open data – scientific data obtained within the scope of the project is, in accordance with the tender documentation, to be communicated where possible.
“9.2. The Definition of Data for Publication
“The recipient and other participants in support must also ensure the provision of data on the project and, where possible, scientific data obtained by support in the project in accordance with the requirements of Act No. 106/1999 Sb. (…). The recipient will, in connection with these obligations, submit to the funder its plan for the communication of scientific data obtained during the project in every interim and final report on the progress of the project (“data management plan”).”
INTER-EXCELLENCE II programme
In the INTER-EXCELLENCE II programme, MŠMT has published a new requirement for the submission of a Project Interim Report (PEZ in czech), namely the submission of a Data Management Plan (DMP) within the framework of the INTER-EXCELLENCE II programme to support international cooperation in research, development and innovation.
The beneficiary is obliged to include in the DMP the points (mandatory content of the DMP) listed in this guidance document. In case of any aspects not mentioned here, the usual method of the organisation can be used – e.g. it is possible to use the forms used in the organisation and the available software solutions, however, the necessary condition is the development of an individual solution for the project.
If the project involves another project participant who generates research data directly on his/her side during the implementation of the project, the DMP fulfils the obligation through the beneficiary.
Requirements for the submission of the DMP
- The DMP must be submitted → at the latest with the project progress report (PER)
- continuous updating of the DMP→ only if necessary – i.e. substantial changes in the mandatory content
- final DMP update is mandatory → submitted at the latest with the final project implementation report (ZAZ)
- the DMP is delivered to the provider on its own form or as an export from the software
- solution used in the organisation, ideally in PDF format.
Mandatory content of the DMP
You can find it here in this Document, that is written only in Czech Language – DMP – Guidelines for Beneficiaries, 2024.
The Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
The Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TA CR) demands compliance with statutory conditions for the provision of research data in all its programmes and public tenders announced since 1 September 2022. For selected programmes, it also demands open access to selected types of results. It expects the gradual introduction of mandatory open access in all programmes. By gradually introducing the principles of open access, it aims to prepare recipients for further research co-operation within the framework of European programmes and initiatives. The goal is application of the principle customary in the EU to the effect that research results and research data are only not published in justified cases. The commercial or other use in practice of the results of the projects it supports is, in all events, the primary concern for the TA CR. Project recipients should always first consider whether it is possible to use the outputs/results or the resultant data in practice, first and foremost on a commercial basis.
The current requirements of the TA CR are summarised in the comprehensive document Research Data and Open Access to Outputs/Results and in detailed documentation for individual programmes.
SIGMA
A number of competitive calls are realised in the SIGMA programme:
First public tender – Sub-goal 3: Support for the innovative potential of the social sciences, humanities and art – the assessment of project proposals takes place.
Second public tender – Sub-goal 2: Beginner researchers – project submission period.
Third public tender – Sub-goal 1: Support for the commercialisation of VaVaI+ – in preparation.
A separate chapter and appendix to the tender documentation for the first and second public tenders are devoted to open access:
Open Access
The recipient is obliged to ensure “Open Access” to the types of outputs/results listed below and to associated research data.
-
- Jimp – an original/summary article in a peer-reviewed specialist periodical that is contained in the Web of Science database (hereafter “WoS”) with the attribute “Article”, “Review”, or “Letter”;
- JSC – an original/summary article in a peer-reviewed specialist periodical that is contained in the SCOPUS database with the attribute “Article”, “Review”, or “Letter”;
- Jost – an original/summary article in a peer-reviewed specialist periodical that does not belong to any of the above groups;
- Nmap – a specialised map with specialised content;
- Npam – heritage procedure;
- NmetA – methodologies and procedures accredited by an authorised body;
- NmetC – a methodology certificated by an authorised body;
- NmetS – a methodology approved by the pertinent body of the state administration responsible for the given topic.
Open Data
- For these results the recipient is obliged to ensure compliance with the requirements related to open access given in the document Research Data and Open Access to Outputs/Results, specifically:
-
- deposit a machine-readable final version of the text of the output/result and research data in the repository, and
- allow open access to the text on the output/result and associated research data under the conditions of an appropriate licence by means of publication in a repository or publication in an open journal, this in such a way that open access must be provided within 6 months (12 months for the social sciences and humanities) of publication or completion of the output/result, at the latest by the end of work on the project
(Contract on the Provision of Support)
- Access is particularly welcome and recommended in the case of results of other types for which access is technically easy (an article in an anthology, a chapter in a specialist book, etc.).
- Open access is generally understood as the assurance of permanent, immediate and free on-line access without restrictions of any kind to the full texts of scientific publications (most often articles) and other research outputs/results and related data. The output/result is obtained only if it meets all requirements according to the 2017+ Methodology, the requirements of open access listed in the document Research Data and Open Access to Outputs/Results and the conditions of the Contract on the Provision of Support.
Data Management
- The recipient is obliged to submit a “Data Management Plan” (DMP) to the funder along with the first interim report, to update it regularly, and to submit an updated version of the “Data Management Plan” to the funder as part of any interim and final report.
- The Technology Agency of the Czech Republic recommends its own DMP template for the creation of a Data Management Plan, though it is also possible to use the templates of the EC Horizon Europe programme from the National Library of Technology.
- The main beneficiary is further obliged to submit information to the funder during the course of implementation of the project on the basis of which it will be possible to verify that open access is provided to results and research data in accordance with the conditions given in the specific conditions of the contract on the provision of support.
- Any publication costs associated with publication in open journals or on publication platforms and costs associated with data preparation and storage are eligible costs for the duration of the project.
(Tender Documentation; 2nd Public Tender, SIGMA programme, page 9)
KAPPA
The conditions of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic for the KAPPA programme for the support of applied research, experimental development and innovation require that the recipient ensures:
- Open Access to all results of any project of type “J” – “specialist peer-reviewed article”.
- open data – all supporting data associated with publications. The approach “as open as possible, as closed as necessary” should apply to open data and its sharing, i.e. as open as possible, though with consideration given to the interests of the recipient. Data should also be managed in accordance with FAIR principles.
- data management – Recipients are obliged within 6 months of the initiation of work on a project to submit a Data Management Plan (DMP) containing a description of what data is to be created, processed and/or collected. Detailed information on the conditions and a guide to conforming to the conditions can be found at Open Access in the KAPPA Programme.
Article 4 The obligations of the main recipient
2) The main recipient is further obliged
- l) to submit to the funder a data management plan within 6 months of the initiation of work on the project, … in what way is the data to be shared and published; and in what way is the data to be stored during the course of work on the project and preserved following the conclusion of the project.
(“Conditions of the Provision of Support in the Kappa Programme”, 2019, page 8)
Article 14 Rights to the results of a project and their protection
4) The recipient is obliged to ensure “open access” to all results of any project of type J – “peer-reviewed article”, i.e. free on-line access for any user to all peer-reviewed scientific publications and to all research data associated with such publications.
(“Conditions of the Provision of Support in the Kappa Programme”, 2019, page 19)
TREND
In the TREND programme, the main recipient will submit a “Data Management Plan” to the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic along with its first interim report, will update this plan on a regular basis, and will submit any updated version of this “Data Management Plan” to the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic as part of any interim and final report, including information on accessibility and the method of dissemination of the research results and research data.
This Data Management Plan must contain information about:
- what research data the recipient is to create, process or collect during the course of the project;
- what methods and principles for its management are used with a view to FAIR principles (retrievability, accessibility, interoperability and reusability);
- whether and in what way data is to be shared and published;
- and in what way this data is to be stored during the course of work on the project and following its conclusion.
The Czech Science Foundation
In all its supported projects, the Czech Science Foundation demands that a proposal for an applied project contains a concise description of the research data that is to be used, collected or created during the course of work on a project and the methods used for its management.
The GACR recommends advertising a new professional position of a Data Steward or similar profession within the project to deal with the creation, coordination and management of research data. The cost of this position is an eligible cost of the project, as well as the costs of the management of research data (e.g. related to processing, storage and anonymisation of data) and the creation of a DMP.
GACR recommends the use of Open Access form of publishing, as it leads to greater usability of new knowledge and thus also to increased efficiency of resources spent on project solutions. The costs associated with publication in OA regime (Article processing charge, APC) may be reported as eligible project costs.
Projects submitted in 2024
The requirements relating to data management in the Tender Documentation for 2025 state, for example, the obligation to create and submit Data Management Plan:
- The Beneficiary agrees to submit a Data Management Plan (DMP) on or before the date of the
submission of the first Interim Report and to update the DMP regularly, as needed, and to
submit it regularly as part of the Interim and Final Reports, including information on the
availability and dissemination of the research results and research data. The updated research
data management plan shall be included in the Interim and Final Reports.
- Not submitting the DMP will be considered breaching budgetary discipline.
Projects submitted in 2023
The requirements relating to data management in the Tender Documentation for 2024 are as follows.
- The separate document “justification of project proposal” with a defined scope and prescribed structure comprises part of the project proposal. A “concise description of research data” is one of the points of this structure.
“(9) Section C1 – justification of project proposal…
i) a concise description of the research data that is to be used, collected or created during the course of work on the project and the ways in which it is to be managed; first and foremost information on availability and the method of dissemination of the research results and research data in accordance with the principle that research results and research data are not published only in justified cases (an update is submitted with each sub-report and with the final report);”
(Tender Documentation for Standard Projects 2024, page 18)
- Eligible project costs in section 3.3.3 Material Costs; “4) Costs for other services and non-material costs” this year include “costs for the management of research data and the creation of a Data Management Plan (DMP)”
Projects submitted in 2022
The following conditions relating to data management appear in the Tender Documentation for 2023:
- The project proposal must contain a concise description of the data that is to be created during the project and the methods of its management.
- The Tender Documentation further states that the costs of the management of research data and the creation of a Data Management Plan (DMP) are eligible projects costs.