(Almost) 10 Years of VLIR WG RDM-OS

The VLIR WG RDM-OS, founded in 2016 as an informal platform, aimed to foster collaboration between Flemish universities on topics of Research Data Management (RDM) and Open Science (OS). The White Paper published in 2018 played a key role in shaping the ideas behind the Flemish Open Science Board (FOSB). Even after its establishment, the group remained an invaluable space for exchanging ideas, aligning on common goals, and learning from one another’s experiences. While RDM became more prominent within the FOSB, the importance of Open Access also gradually increased, and the VLIR WG RDM-OS began to focus more on it. This shift proved crucial for the implementation of Belgian Open Access policy, which, in turn, was essential for meeting FOSB's Open Access KPIs. The group also shared and discussed practical cases in this area. As copyright issues became more pressing, particularly in relation to Open Access, data, and AI, the group responded by deepening its collaboration with key partners, including SA&S and Elektron vzw. These efforts, including working together on estimating Open Access expenditures, further strengthened the group’s impact and outreach. This poster will present the achievements and significance of the VLIR WG RDM-OS over the past years, highlighting its contributions to helping shape Open Science practice at Flemish universities.