Austria

Austria

Overview

European Commission

Mandated Organisation

ACONET Verein

EOSC Steering Board representatives

Austria has put in place the necessary organisational structures and funding from national sources for a full implementation of Open Science on all levels of its research activities. Its major universities and research performing and funding organisations have joined forces in various networks and consortia, with the EOSC Support Office Austria (EOSC SOA) as the operational unit of the ACONET Association, the country’s Mandated Organisation.

Together, the members of EOSC SOA strive for a coordinated development of the Austrian Open Science Policy and the development of the EOSC Federation. In this context, many Austrian institutions are also part of EOSC-related Horizon Europe projects. The support from the Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research (BMFWF) for providing national funding has been essential for the overall successful strategy. A national policy that rounds up the current landscape was approved in February 2022.

ACONET Association

The ACONET Association [1] is the signatory of the Memorandum of Understanding with the EOSC Association and thus the Austrian EOSC Mandated Organisation. To carry out the work this entails towards the implementation of the EOSC Federation, however, ACONET Association has created a dedicated body, the EOSC Support Office Austria (EOSC SOA). ACONET Association’s role can therefore be understood as legal representative with no operational plans or executive power over the specific EOSC-related tasks in Austria in which its members are involved.

This is done by the EOSC SOA, whose members include several diverse national stakeholders (RPOs and service providers). The EOSC SOA thus acts as the coordinator of EOSC-related activities in the country and as closest link to the EOSC Association. Its operational goals translate those of the EOSC Association into the national context. Contact: contact@eosc-austria.at

[1] Not to be confused with the National Research and Education Network (NREN) ACOnet, funded by the BMBWF  within the framework of the ACONET Association in 1990 under the responsibility of TU Wien. Since 1992, ACOnet has been operated by the University of Vienna.

EOSC in Practice

Embracing the principles of transparency, reproducibility, and accessibility, these examples highlight the innovative approaches adopted by researchers across various disciplines. From open data sharing and collaborative platforms to pre-registration and open peer review, these practices enhance scientific integrity and contribute to the advancement of knowledge.

National Events

Policies

Austria’s Open Science Policy was adopted on 23rd February 2022 after a discussion period of around two years that included consultation with various stakeholders, including the Federal Ministries of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF), Digitisation and Business Location (BMDW), and Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK). The Policy follows the Open Data and Public Sector Information Directive (EU 2019/1024), and is based on the principles of providing rewards and incentives to the adoption of Open Science practices, defines indicators for its implementation, establishes links to EOSC, and includes sections on FAIR data, research integrity, skills and education, and citizen science.

Open Science Policy Austria: Austrian Policy on Open Science and the European Open Science Cloud

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People

  • video_library

    Paolo Budroni, ACONET verein

    Interview at EOSC-A General Assembly, May 2023, Brussels
  • photo_library

    The EOSC Lustrum: 5 years of EOSC developments

    Vienna University Library, Vienna Austria 19 October 2023