The University of Minho, a pioneer in open access to knowledge and Open Science, established a new Open Science Policy in June 2025 through Rector's Order RT-91/2025. From that date onwards, a set of updated guidelines, aligned with leading national and international reference bodies in the field, came into force. These guidelines promote openness, transparency, reproducibility, credibility, efficiency, and research quality, aiming to strengthen the scientific system and enhance its recognition by society. Among the provisions covered by this new policy are:
- The extension of guidelines to the full spectrum of Open Science, including research data, educational resources, citizen science, open-source software, and open innovation practices;
- Alignment with the requirements of major national and international funding bodies, such as the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the European Commission (EC), reinforcing the mandatory deposit of research outputs in RepositóriUM and the use of open licences;
- Clearer guidance for the management, deposit, and sharing of research data, aligned with the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable);
- Recognition of books and book chapters as relevant categories of scholarly publications, with adjusted embargo periods compatible with publishing agreements;
- Promotion of research assessment principles that discourage the inappropriate use of metrics and encourage the recognition of diverse Open Science practices in researcher evaluation.
The first version of the institutional self-archiving policy for the scientific output of University of Minho academics and researchers was formalised through Rector's Order RT-56/2004, shortly after the launch of the university's institutional repository, RepositóriUM, at the end of 2003. The policy aimed to maximise the visibility, accessibility, and impact of research by promoting free access to scientific outputs, encouraging the academic community to deposit publications in the repository, and adopting the principles of the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities. Between 2005 and 2006, specific financial incentives were also introduced to support compliance with the self-archiving policy.
The Rector's Order RT-98/2010 consolidated open-access deposit as the default procedure for the entire academic community (while still allowing embargoed access when duly justified). It broadened the range of publication types covered by the policy and emphasised interoperability with the RCAAP and OpenAIRE initiatives.
In 2025, FCT also launched a new Open Access Policy for scientific publications, representing a significant revision and update of the mechanisms in place since 2014. Deposit of publications became mandatory, while embargo periods remained permissible and article processing charges (APCs) could be considered eligible costs. In addition, the policy includes recommendations regarding research data management and sharing.
The following are examples of policies and guidance documents issued by major organisations active in the field of Open Science:
European Commission:
EUA - European University Association:
Science Europe:
UNESCO:
