From 16 to 18 of October, the National Documentation Centre (EKT) organised an International Conference focused at the latest developments and trends in regard to policies affecting Open Data and Open Access to publicly funded scientific research with a particular focus on relevant developments in the Mediterannean countries.
The last couple of years have witnessed very important developments with regards to the wide adoption of open access to publicly funded research and the opening up of public sector data. Lowering the barrier for reuse of the publicly funded research and public data, is expected to boost innovation, help address effectively big environmental, energy and health-related issues and unlock a significant financial potential for Europe.
Drawing on these developments, the Conference focused on how to further align policies and measure impact at regional, national and European level. The panel included an excellent line-up of international and Greek speakers such as specialists on open access, research policy-makers, representatives of research funders and research performing institution administrators, civil society representatives, European Commission officials, as well as representatives from major international associations.
During this conference, the EU project Mediterranean Open Access Network's (ΜedOANet) final conference also took place. The project facilitates the development of open access policies in six Mediterranean countries: Greece, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Turkey.
Mire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, addressed a video-taped opening speech to the Conference underlining that Open Access to research funded by the Commission is becoming mandatory in the framework of projects funded under the Horizon2020 funding programme.
In his keynote speech, Prof. Geoffrey Boulton, Senior Honorary Professorial Fellow, University of Edinburgh and Royal Society, said that Open Access to scientific data helps make science better as it allows for research results to be verified and reproduced.