Why CRediT is not enough

Presentation by Esther Plomp on 3 September 2025 for the OpenFest conference, as part of the session on Inclusive approaches to research recognition. Specialised roles in research (such as Data Stewards, Project Managers, Software Engineers, Community Managers) are key to the success of large research projects, and their expertise may contribute to enhancing the transparency of the research process. Yet, the current focus in research assessment on publications inadvertently sidelines supporting contributions of these roles that may not translate directly into authorship on publications. These contributions, with examples listed in this presentation/panel, are therefore invisible in research assessment if the focus remains on publications. CRediT is a step forward as it allows for a more transparent recording of contributions, but only for a limited range of research outputs. Contributorship on tangible research outputs using the CRediT taxonomy, while more transparent, is therefore still insufficient to evaluate all research contributions. The current research assessment system needs to be reimagined so that the entire spectrum of research activities and contributions to the research process are valued.