Tampere University signs the new Declaration for Open Science and Research
The renewed Declaration for Open Science and Research 2025–2030 was launched in May. In addition to Tampere University, the signatories include The Finnish Social Science Data Archive (FSD) and Tampere University Press, as well as several university members as private individuals.
The open science operating environment is constantly changing, so the content of the declaration is evaluated and updated every five years. Compared to the previous Declaration 2020–2025, the new version takes into account the recent geopolitical changes and security concerns in research collaboration. It emphasises academic freedom, research security, and openness as a safeguard for continuity under disruptions and changing conditions.
In the renewed version, the vision and mission have been consolidated into one clear statement for responsible openness. It also includes explicit principles for promoting openness. The new declaration is consistent with Tampere University’s previous commitments, the international context, and Tampere University Open Science Policy.
Tampere University will not participate in the next open science monitoring
In previous years, Tampere University has achieved the highest level in national open science monitoring, whose stated goals are to support organisations in developing open science and research, to verify the implementation of objectives agreed upon in the declaration and policies, and to provide an overall picture of the state of openness in Finnish science and research. While a top ranking is a significant achievement, it may create the impression that there is no longer a need for improvement in the university’s open science efforts.
– The national monitoring model for open science is now being developed, but even in an improved form it alone will not meet our internal evaluation needs. A systematic assessment from the university’s own perspective is required, says Chief Specialist Susanna Nykyri.
The goal is that, in the future, Tampere University’s open science self-assessment, carried out every two years and combined with national monitoring, will be integrated into the university’s quality system. The self-assessment would include both qualitative and quantitative indicators and take into account relevant evaluation tools as well as funders’ requirements.
The university is committed to advancing open science, so this should truly be a shared effort: every researcher, lecturer and specialist, unit, and service contributes to a more open, resilient research environment.
