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Open Science & Research Data Management Supports for Horizon Europe Applications

Western University supports researchers in meeting Horizon Europe (HE) open science requirements through services provided by Western Libraries and Western Research. These supports include dedicated repositories for data and publications, as well as guidance, training and tools related to:

  1. Open science;
  2. Research data management (RDM) including the development of data management plans; and
  3. Communication, dissemination and knowledge mobilization activities planning.

These supports align with international funder expectations and Western’s mission to provide world-class institutional research support. Research data are managed in accordance with the principles outlined in Western University's Institutional Strategy on Research Data Management.
 

Open Science in Horizon Europe Requirements

Horizon Europe requires researchers to integrate open science practices from the proposal stage through the full project lifecycle. These practices align with EU policy goals to strengthen leadership in research and innovation by enabling broad access to and reuse of research outputs, supported by infrastructures such as the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).

Open science requirements in Horizon Europe include both mandatory obligations, which apply to all funded projects, and recommended practices, which are encouraged and may also be considered during proposal evaluation. The overarching principle guiding all open science activities is "as open as possible, as closed as necessary," ensuring that research outputs are shared openly whenever feasible while allowing appropriate restrictions where justified (e.g., to protect intellectual property, security, privacy or other legitimate interests).

All Horizon Europe projects must:

  • Provide open access to scientific publications immediately upon publication (i.e., no embargo period);
  • Scientific publications must be deposited in a trusted repository at the time of publication
  • Manage research data according to FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable);
  • Ensure information is available about data, tools, and methods needed to validate results;
  • Provide access to results (digital or physical) where needed for validation; and
  • In emergencies, provide immediate open access to research outputs, if requested.

Depending on the call or programme, additional practices may apply, such as:

  • Early and open sharing of research outputs
  • Ensuring reproducibility of results
  • Sharing outputs beyond data and publications (e.g., via the Horizon Results Platform)
  • Participating in open peer review
  • Engaging stakeholders (e.g., citizens, policymakers, end users) in research design

These practices are not exhaustive and may be required in specific funding calls.

Projects must plan how results will be shared and used:

  • Proposals must include a plan for communication and dissemination activities [note, the European Commission refers to this as communication, dissemination, and exploitation of results]
  • A detailed plan is required early in the project (typically within 6 months)
  • Results must be shared as soon as possible, unless restricted by legitimate interests

The Horizon Results Platform supports sharing outputs and connecting with users and partners.

Researchers must develop and maintain a Data Management Plan (DMP) to demonstrate responsible data handling:

  • Describes how data will be managed, stored, and shared
  • Includes timelines for depositing data in trusted repositories
  • Ensures alignment with FAIR principles

A full DMP is usually not required at proposal stage, but some calls may request it.

When sharing data:

  • Metadata must be openly available (e.g., title, authors, date, funding, licence)
  • Licensing must follow: “as open as possible, as closed as necessary”

Restrictions on data sharing are permitted when justified, for example:

  • Protection of commercial interests
  • Legal, ethical, or contractual constraints

Any restrictions must be clearly explained in the DMP.

Resources

Horizon Europe Open Science Resources

Western Libraries Supports & Resources

Contact the Western Libraries Research and Scholarly Communication Team at rsclib@uwo.ca.

Western Research Open Science Supports & Resources

Contact the Western Research Inclusive Research and Excellence team either by filling out this form with your information or contacting Mariam Hayward, Director, Inclusive Research Excellence and Impact.
 

Contact Us

For more information about open science requirements in Horizon Europe funding, please contact Elizabeth Russell-Minda, Institutional Research Programs, or book a consultation.