NRFU-SE Webinar Series: Open Science Policies and Practices of Research Funding Organisations

The third webinar in the NRFU–Science Europe series Building Capacity in the Ukrainian R&I Ecosystem, titled 'Open Science policies and practices of research funding organisations,' took place on 20 February 2026.

The session examined how Open Science principles are being embedded into the policies and practices of research funding and performing organisations, with a particular focus on assessment procedures, funding conditions, data management, and research outputs. In the context of Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its research and innovation system and align it with European standards, Open Science was discussed as a key driver of transparency, accessibility, and research quality.

The webinar brought together experts from leading European organisations, including national research funding agencies and the European Commission, to share institutional experiences and practical approaches to implementing Open Science. Participants explored how Open Science is integrated into grant evaluation, data sharing requirements, FAIR data principles, and monitoring systems, as well as how research assessment reform is reshaping incentives beyond traditional metrics.

Their discussions highlighted that advancing Open Science is both a policy and cultural transformation, requiring coordinated action across funding and performing organisations, sustained investment in digital and scholarly infrastructures, and stronger alignment of research assessment systems with open and responsible research practices. It also highlighted the importance of flexible, context-sensitive implementation approaches that balance openness with ethical, legal, and disciplinary considerations.

This report summarises the key insights and recommendations from the webinar, reflecting the shared commitment of Science Europe and the NRFU to strengthening Ukraine’s research and innovation ecosystem through more open, transparent, and sustainable research systems aligned with European and international standards.