The FWF's approach to Open Research Information

The Austrian Science Fund (FWF) is strongly committed to the principles of Open Science, advocating for over two decades to ensure that research outputs are as openly accessible as possible. This includes ensuring that data on research funding and grants is openly available and interoperable. Central to this effort is the use of persistent identifiers in grant metadata. All FWF projects are assigned a grant DOI, which must be cited as the identifier of the approved project in any research output. Since 2016, ORCID has been mandatory for all researchers submitting proposals to the FWF, and ROR IDs are used in project metadata to ensure unique identification of research institutions. This accessibility and interoperability of grant metadata supports the efficient sharing of information of research projects globally. Beyond persistent identifiers, the FWF has supported open research infrastructures for over a decade and openly shares information on funded initiatives on its website. This talk will specifically address how the FWF’s efforts align with and support the commitments outlined in the Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information. By sharing the FWF’s strategies and practices, the aim is to provide other signatories with practical insights and actionable steps to enhance the openness and interoperability of grant information. Other funders might find this particularly useful in implementing similar frameworks within their organizations. Additionally, the talk will highlight FWF’s current projects in the field of open research information and outline future plans.