Programme Open Science I – 2021 to 2024

Since 2021, the swissuniversities Open Science I programme is dedicated to the implementation of the National Open Access (OA) Action Plan at Swiss universities and has, since 2022, also included the implementation of the National Open Research Data (ORD) Action Plan. swissuniversities has submitted two applications for federal project contributions to the Higher Education Council SHK, which were approved in 2021 and 2022 and are now being implemented in two programme phases: 

The aim of Phase A Open Access is to increase the proportion of open access publications at universities. A combination of measures is designed to make it easier for researchers to publish their publications freely. For instance, the development and networking of open access services and infrastructures, negotiations with major publishers and the promotion of alternative forms of publication all contribute to the sustainable implementation of OA in Switzerland.

 Phase B Open Research Data implements the action lines of the ORD action plan for which swissuniversities is responsible. From 2022-2024, the action lines under the responsibility of the ORD Strategy Council and the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences are also funded on a transitional basis. 

• Action line A of the ORD action plan promotes the development of ORD practices through competitive, research-focused projects; 
• Action line B is dedicated to the creation of long-term funding models for ORD services and infrastructures, the promotion of their consolidation and cost management. 
• Action line C aims to sensitise the research community to best ORD practices and to promote education and training in research data management (RDM) and ORD. 
• Action line D deals with incentives and rewards for researchers, as well as the legal and ethical aspects of ORD practices and their international compatibility.

Programme Open Science II - 2025 to 2028

In December 2023, swissuniversities submitted an application to the Higher Education Council (SHK) for federal project contributions with the aim of sustainably consolidating and strategically developing Open Science at Swiss universities. The SHK approved the application for the Open Science II programme in May 2024, subject to parliamentary decisions.