Collaboration is the driving force behind the development of EOSC and the EOSC-A country pages offer a unique window into how nations across Europe jointly contribute to the initiative.
Covering 40 countries, the pages are rich in information and provide a detailed overview of national Open Science developments, policies, institutional frameworks, and key stakeholders. The content is regularly updated to demonstrate how Europe is moving towards a more open and interconnected research environment.
Open Science momentum builds across Europe: New national policies released
Recent updates to our country pages highlight newly released national policies from Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain each signalling stronger national commitments to open research and EOSC. Read the policy summaries below or visit the corresponding country pages for more detailed information.
Belgium – Federal Open Science Cloud (FOSB)
Launched in March 2024, Belgium’s Federal Open Science Cloud is a federal initiative aimed at transforming the country’s scientific research landscape. It focuses on developing a shared, interoperable digital infrastructure that enables open access to research data and publications generated by federal institutions. By promoting FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles and fostering collaboration among universities, public research institutions, and European partners, the initiative seeks to enhance transparency, reproducibility, and innovation in Belgian science. It also supports the country’s integration into the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).
Ireland – New Open Research Policy
Research Ireland has released its new Open Research Policy, effective from 7 April 2025, applying to all research publications submitted from this date onward. The policy supports the National Action Plan for Open Research, 2022-2030. This policy marks a step toward broader open research practices, with future updates set to expand coverage to a wider range of research outputs in line with international best practices. A fully updated policy is expected to be launched by the end of 2025.
Portugal – FCT Policy on Open Access to Publications
Coming into effect on February 7, 2025, the new open access policy by Portugal’s Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) mandates that all scientific publications arising from FCT-funded research must be made openly accessible from the date of publication, with no embargo periods (for thesis, dissertations and books embargoes are allowed). The policy applies to various outputs, including journal articles, books, book chapters, conference proceedings, and doctoral theses. It supports different open access pathways—Gold, Green, and Transformative Agreements—and requires researchers to retain sufficient rights to enable open sharing. The policy aims to improve the visibility, accessibility, and impact of Portuguese research while promoting alignment with European open science initiatives like Plan S.
Spain – Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica, Técnica y de Innovación 2024–2027
Adopted in April 2024, this four-year plan sets the strategic direction for public investment in research and innovation in Spain from 2024 to 2027. With a budget of approximately €18.4 billion, it represents a 32% increase compared to the previous period. The plan focuses on strengthening knowledge generation and transfer, fostering public-private collaboration, supporting research careers, ensuring gender equality, and reducing regional disparities in R&D development. It also emphasises addressing major societal and environmental challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and public health. The strategy is closely tied to Spain’s national recovery and resilience objectives and is designed to align with broader European innovation frameworks.
What you will find on EOSC-A country pages
While the specific sections may vary slightly from one country to another, an EOSC-A country page typically includes the following components, providing a structured insight into the country’s efforts and progress in adopting and promoting Open Science and EOSC:
Overview: A summary of the national involvement in EOSC, highlighting national initiatives, key stakeholders, and the overall commitment to Open Science principles.
Policies: This section aims to identify the relevant national policies and strategies adopted to support Open Science and the implementation of EOSC.
EOSC in practice: This section includes practical examples, use cases, and case studies that demonstrate how the research community is implementing EOSC. It also highlights the contributions of EOSC-A Members and Observers.
Members and Observers: Information about the country’s EOSC-A Members and Observers, highlighting their roles and contributions to the EOSC ecosystem.
People: This section features profiles of key stakeholders involved in advancing EOSC-related initiatives within the country. These may include representatives from Mandated Organisations, research institutions, government bodies, and other organisations.
EU projects: This section lists EOSC-related projects funded by the European Union, in which organisations from the country are participating.
National events: Details about past and upcoming events related to EOSC and Open Science practices, including National Tripartite Events.
News: Recent news, articles, and updates on EOSC activities in the country are compiled here.
The data presented on country pages was collected by the EOSC Focus project and has been validated by both the EOSC-A Mandated Organisations and the EOSC Steering Board ensuring accuracy.
If you have questions about the EOSC-A country pages or would like to report an update to their content, contact Isabel Caetano, Senior Stakeholder Engagement and Outreach Officer at EOSC-A, or Yann Libaers, Junior Policy Officer at EOSC-A.
