The National Framework on the Transition to an Open Research Environment has been developed as the first step in a process to create a National Action Plan for the transition to an open research environment in Ireland.

The National Framework is aligned with developing European Commission policy in this area and is structured accordingly. Commission Recommendation (EU) 2018/790 of 25 April 2018 on access to and preservation of scientific information asks Member States to “set and implement clear policies (as detailed in national action plans)” covering open access to publications; management of research data; preservation and reuse of scientific information; infrastructures for open research; skills and competencies; and incentives and rewards.

The principles of the National Framework support access to research funded by the Irish Government. They support the free flow of information across national and international research communities, contributing to research-enabled teaching and learning; citizen science; open innovation; and greater transparency, accountability, and public awareness of the results of publicly funded research. The transition to an open research environment has a key objective of enhancing and supporting research excellence across all disciplines, research integrity, and public trust in research.

The National Open Research Forum (NORF) was established in 2017 to drive the Irish agenda for open research.

NORF prepared Ireland’s National Framework on the Transition to an Open Research Environment, launched by the Government of Ireland in July 2019. The role of NORF is to propose national actions to address the challenges of changing the Irish research system to strengthen, promote or better support open research practices as outlined in the National Framework. NORF is currently developing a National Action Plan for the transition to an open research environment.