Aalto University updates its Open Science and Research Policy

Summary of Updated Open Science and Research Principles for Researchers 

Aalto University is committed to advancing open science by encouraging openness, providing support, and recognizing the efforts of its research community. Researchers should familiarise themselves with guidelines, utilise open practices, and contribute to the transparent and ethical dissemination of knowledge and resources

General principles

• Aim to make research outputs as open as possible, but consider reasons for restricted openness due to laws and regulations, research integrity and ethics, confidentiality, and security. Be aware that commercial interests and publishers' requirements might limit openness.
• Open science activities are recognized as merit in recruitment and career promotion.

Open publishing

• Parallel Publishing: Ensure long-term availability by parallel-publishing all peer-reviewed outputs.
• Transformative Agreements: Use agreements with publishers to facilitate open access; if not covered, use project or basic funding.
• Avoid questionable journals and ensure good publishing practices.

Open and FAIR data, methods, software and code

• Data Management Planning: Plan data management from the start with DMPs and agreements.
• Rights Transfer and Use: In externally funded projects transfer data rights to Aalto, retain authorship, and open research data post-publication.
• FAIR Data: Make data linked to publications Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable, respecting ethical/legal issues.
• Data Reuse: Consider existing data for reuse before new collection
• Sharing Openly: Ensure transparency and replicability by sharing protocols, methods, and software.

Roles and Responsibilities

Researchers and Doctoral Students: Follow ethics guidelines, use ORCiD, manage research data effectively, and recognise funding received and infrastructures used.

Principal Investigator (PI): Ensure effective data management, use agreement templates, and consult relevant services when needed.

Aalto University Management and Service Organization: Provide support, strategies, consultations, and training for open science.

See the detailed policy:

Aalto University Open Science and Research Policy | Aalto University