National Open Access to Scientific Information Strategy (CZ0019)

STATE AND DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED BY MAKING THE COMMITMENT The Czech Republic is one of the few countries that have no national open access strategy and no document unifying the plans for developing open access to scientific information at the national level. The Czech Republic, along with other OECD and EU countries, committed to advancing open access to research data from projects financed by public funds as early as 2004. MAIN OBJECTIVE Define and implement a clear strategy for open access to scientific information from projects financed by public funds according to § 16 of Act No. 130/2002 Coll. and other legal regulations regulating the publication of RDI results (such as classified information or trade secrets…). The document “Czech National Open Access to Scientific Information Strategy for 2017–2020” (Národní strategie otevřeného přístupu k vědeckým informacím v ČR na léta 2017–2020) should be based on the recommendations of the Council for Research, Development and Innovations “Open Access (“OA”) to the Published Results of Research Financed by Public Funds” (Otevřený přístup k publikovaným výsledkům výzkumu financovaného z veřejných zdrojů) of 28 February 2014 and the binding OA principles at the EU level. This is a prerequisite for the full integration of the Czech Republic into the European Research Area and enhancing the competitiveness of Czech research. The strategy also develops the principles of the National Policy of Research, Development and Innovations for 2016–2020 and other national documents. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMITMENT Submit the National Open Access to Scientific Information Strategy to the Government for approval.

4.2.3 Forming the National Open Access to Scientific Information Strategy for 2017–2020

Commitment Text:

The Czech Republic is one of the few countries that have no national open access strategy and no document unifying the plans for developing open access to scientific information at the national level. The Czech Republic, along with other OECD and EU countries, committed to advancing open access to research data from projects financed by public funds as early as 2004.

Main Objective: Submit the National Open Access to Scientific Information Strategy to the Government for approval.

Define and implement a clear strategy for open access to scientific information from projects financed by public funds according to § 16 of Act No. 130/2002 Coll. and other legal regulations regulating the publication of RDI results (such as classified information or trade secrets). The document 'Czech National Open Access to Scientific Information Strategy for 2017–2020' should be based on the recommendations of the Council for Research, Development and Innovations 'Open Access ('OA') to the Published Results of Research Financed by Public Funds of 28 February 2014 and the binding OA principles at the EU level. This is a prerequisite for the full integration of the Czech Republic into the European Research Area and enhancing the competitiveness of Czech research. The strategy also develops the principles of the National Policy of Research, Development and Innovations for 2016–2020 and other national documents.

Milestones:

1. Milestone Title: Approval of the Czech National Open Access to Scientific Information Strategy for 2017-2020 by the Government

Responsible institution: Section of the Deputy Prime Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic

Supporting institution(s): N/A

Start date: May 2016 End date: May 2017

Context and Objectives

Unlike most EU countries, the Czech Republic had no policy on open access to scientific publications and data from publicly funded projects. Adopting such a policy was a condition set by the European Commission in July 2012 before any EU member state could enter the European Research Area.[Note115: Based on the Recommendation of the European Commission, the Government´s Council for Research, Development and Innovations issued its recommendations, 'Open Access to the Published Results of Research Financed by Public Funds,' on 28 February 2014. A working group consisting of 20 members was established at the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic with major universities, the Ministry of Education, and the Office of Government participating in the preparation of the draft text of the strategy.] However, this obligation does not stipulate the type of publication repository or means for sharing the data. Some stakeholders remain skeptical of the proposed strategy. There are several factors that impede its potential. First, the strategy is not legally binding beyond the public administration, as it's a government resolution. Second, no sanctions for non-compliance are established. Furthermore, while the strategy defines 'open access,' what should be published, and narrows down possible exceptions from the rule, it does not set any specific implementation steps or timeline. Finally, with the change of the government and the reorganization of the Office of Government, the unit that was championing this strategy was dissolved.

The National Information System for Research, Experimental Development and Innovation (IS VaVal) is in place, but not all results have been accessible to public. Furthermore, there is no standard definition of exceptions from the publishing requirement, and concerns have been raised about intellectual property rights in relation to open access.

The objective of the commitment is to adopt a strategy. This commitment could advance open and free access to publicly funded publications. Consequently, the quality and effectiveness of the research and further use of results would increase, as well as transparency in public spending. Adopting a strategy would be a positive step forward as there is no official regulation in this area, nor a consensus among academia, the Ministry of Education, and other stakeholders on publishing standards.[Note116: Businesses were not actively involved in the debate or tasks of the working group.] At the same time, the strategy is not legally binding for the end users or funders beyond the public administration and does not contain an action plan for implementation. Therefore, the commitment's potential impact is considered minor.

Completion

This commitment is complete. The government adopted the National Open Access to Scientific Information Strategy 2017–2020 on 14 July 2017.[Note117: The Office of Government, Government Resolution no. 444: 'Usneseni vlady Ceske Republiky ze dne 14. cervna 2017 c. 444 o Narodni strategii otevreneho pristupu Ceske republiky k vedeckym informacim na leta 2017 az 2020,' (14 Jul. 2017), https://apps.odok.cz/attachment/-/down/RCIAANGCDD4M.] The strategy is based on recommendations from the Council for Research, Development and Innovations' 'Open Access ('OA')' to the Published Results of Research Financed by Public Funds' of 28 February 2014.[Note118: Open Access to the Published Results of Research Financed by Public Funds, https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwjnsta2v6TdAhWHtlkKHRMGDKAQFjAAegQIARAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvyzkum.rect.muni.cz%2Fmedia%2F1310764%2Fopen-access-k-publik-vysledkum-vyzkumu.docx&usg=AOvVaw0vSvfvfP1MoiXMPTkWF5MH] Also, the binding Open Access principles at the EU level were the baseline for the working group who drafted the strategy. The strategy was referred to and presented during the Open Access Week (23-27 October 2017). The Open Access Week was an international event in which most of the academic and university libraries in the Czech Republic took part. Additionally, the strategy was presented during the conference, OpenAlt, that took place at Brno University of Technology in November 2017.[Note119: OpenAlt, 'OpenAlt konference' (2017), https://openalt.cz/2017/.] The Association of Libraries of Czech Universities, that also runs the open access.cz website,[Note120: Open Access.cz, 'Stav open access v CR' (29 Aug. 2018), http://openaccess.cz/stav-v-cr/.] has been the main promoter of open access.[Note121: Association of Libraries of Czech Universities, 'Association of Libraries of Czech Universities' (27 Feb. 2017), https://akvs.upce.cz/en/.]

Early Results

When adopting the strategy, the government tasked the Deputy Prime Minister responsible for science, research and innovation to develop an action plan that would specify the missing implementation steps by 31 December 2017. The action plan has not been developed or published.

Next Steps

The commitment could be taken forward in the next action plan, focusing on:

· Emphasizing preparation, implementation and monitoring of the action plan that was envisaged for the strategy, specifying the implementation steps and timeline; and

· Considering the creation of a multistakeholder working group in charge of implementation, to include the Czech Science Foundation, Czech Academy of Science, the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, and the Ministry of Education. Those institutions were initially tasked to ensure the priorities of the strategy by the government resolution, as well as universities, the Association of Libraries of Czech Universities, and other stakeholders including businesses.

4.2.3. Forming the National Open Access to Scientific Information Strategy for 2017–2020

Commitment Text:

The Czech Republic is one of the few countries that have no national open access strategy and no document unifying the plans for developing open access to scientific information at the national level. The Czech Republic, along with other OECD and EU countries, committed to advancing open access to research data from projects financed by public funds as early as 2004.

Main Objective:

Define and implement a clear strategy for open access to scientific information from projects financed by public funds according to § 16 of Act No. 130/2002 Coll. and other legal regulations regulating the publication of RDI results (such as classified information or trade secrets). The document “Czech National Open Access to Scientific Information Strategy for 2017–2020” should be based on the recommendations of the Council for Research, Development and Innovations “Open Access (“OA”) to the Published Results of Research Financed by Public Funds of 28 February 2014 and the binding OA principles at the EU level. This is a prerequisite for the full integration of the Czech Republic into the European Research Area and enhancing the competitiveness of Czech research. The strategy also develops the principles of the National Policy of Research, Development and Innovations for 2016–2020 and other national documents.

Brief description of the commitment:

Submit the National Open Access to Scientific Information Strategy to the Government for approval.

Milestone:

1. Approval of the Czech National Open Access to Scientific Information Strategy for 2017-2020 by the Government

Responsible institution: Section of the Deputy Prime Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic

Supporting institution(s): N/A

Start date: May 2016                                                                                End date: May 2017

Commitment Aim:

This commitment called for the adoption of a national strategy for open access to scientific information from publicly funded projects.

Status

Midterm: Complete

This commitment was completed by the midterm. The government adopted the National Open Access to Scientific Information Strategy 2017–2020 on 14 July 2017. [24]^, [25]  For more information, please see the IRM Progress Report.

Did It Open Government?

Access to Information: Marginal

Unlike other EU countries, the Czech Republic had no policy on open access to scientific publications and data from publicly funded projects prior to the start of the action plan. Adopting such a policy was a prerequisite set by the European Commission in July 2012 for an EU member state to join the European Research Area. However, this prerequisite did not stipulate the type of publication repository or means for sharing the data. The National Information System for Research, Experimental Development and Innovation (IS VaVal)—the search application for publicly funded scientific projects—was in place, but not all results have been accessible to the public. Furthermore, there was no standard definition of exceptions from the requirement to publish results of the research, and according to an employee of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, many authors and grant holders raised concerns over intellectual property rights in relation to open access, re-use and attribution.

This commitment is a positive step forward as there was no official regulation in this area, nor a consensus among academia, the Ministry of Education, and other stakeholders on publishing standards. Also, open and free access to publicly funded publications is assured for experts and citizens.

However, there are several factors that impede the potential of this commitment to improve access to scientific information. First, the strategy is not legally binding beyond the public administration, as it is enshrined in a government resolution rather than a legal act. Second, there are no sanctions for non-compliance. Furthermore, while the strategy defines “open access” on what should be published, and narrows possible exceptions, it does not provide any specific implementation steps or timeline. Finally, with the change of government and the reorganization of the Office of Government, the unit that was championing this strategy was dissolved and the portfolio transferred to the Ministry of Education. This transfer caused delays in the preparations of the consequent action plan for implementation of the strategy. For this reason, the change is marginal.

Carried Forward?

This commitment is not carried over to the next action plan.

^[24] The Office of Government, Government Resolution no. 444, https://apps.odok.cz/attachment/-/down/RCIAANGCDD4M

[25] The text of the strategy (in Czech), https://e-zdroje.vsb.cz/akcni-plan-pro-implementaci-narodni-strategie-otevreneho-pristupu-ceske-republiky-k-vedeckym-informacim-na-leta-2017-2020/