TY - JOUR
T1 - Research funders should be more transparent
T2 - a plea for open applications
AU - Horbach, Serge P. J. M.
AU - Tijdink, Joeri K.
AU - Bouter, L.
N1 - Funding Information: However, we would actually argue the opposite. If applications are published even if they are not funded, this provides a time stamp to the work, settling potential priority conflicts and providing ‘proof' of being first. In addition, having non-funded proposals out in the open increases opportunities for collaboration and usage of project ideas by others or in other contexts—with or without the initiator being involved—thereby adding value to the work put in the grant application. The Dutch Research Council (NWO) argues similarly in their rationale for publishing grant applications in the Open Science Fund []. If non-funded applications are published, it also gives other public or private funders the opportunity to scrutinize these research ideas and see whether they fit the scope and the mission of their funding programs. A new platform where funders can search for projects may therefore result in a higher percentage of successful applications. We understand that publishing non-funded applications may lead to some unease among researchers. The academic enterprise is to a substantial part built on competition between researchers and some researchers may consequently not appreciate the publication of their rejected applications. Turning our proposal into a success hence requires a system in which due credit is given to initiators of project ideas. This aligns with calls for more holistic approaches to research evaluation [,]. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors.
PY - 2022/10/12
Y1 - 2022/10/12
N2 - Transparency is increasingly becoming the new norm and modus operandi of the global research enterprise. In this mini-review, we summarize ongoing initiatives to increase transparency in science and funding in particular. Based on this, we make a plea for the next step in funders' compliance with the principles of Open Science, suggesting the adoption of open applications. Our proposed model includes a plea for the publication of all submitted grant applications; open sharing of review reports, argumentations for funding decisions and project evaluation reports; and the disclosure of reviewers' and decision committee members' identities. In line with previous calls for transparency and the available evidence about these measures' effectiveness, we argue that open applications could lead to more diverse collaboration, recognition of research ideas, fairer procedures for grant allocation, more research on funding practices and increased trust in the funding allocation process.
AB - Transparency is increasingly becoming the new norm and modus operandi of the global research enterprise. In this mini-review, we summarize ongoing initiatives to increase transparency in science and funding in particular. Based on this, we make a plea for the next step in funders' compliance with the principles of Open Science, suggesting the adoption of open applications. Our proposed model includes a plea for the publication of all submitted grant applications; open sharing of review reports, argumentations for funding decisions and project evaluation reports; and the disclosure of reviewers' and decision committee members' identities. In line with previous calls for transparency and the available evidence about these measures' effectiveness, we argue that open applications could lead to more diverse collaboration, recognition of research ideas, fairer procedures for grant allocation, more research on funding practices and increased trust in the funding allocation process.
KW - Open Science
KW - research funding
KW - responsible research practices
KW - transparency
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85140436117&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.220750
DO - https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.220750
M3 - Review article
C2 - 36312565
SN - 2054-5703
VL - 9
SP - 1
EP - 5
JO - Royal Society open science
JF - Royal Society open science
IS - 10
M1 - 220750
ER -
