New Research Data Open Access politics

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education has released updated Research Data Open Access politics in July of 2025, financed from public funds. The document sets new directions and standards for the entire education system in Poland, including academic libraries, as well as science and research institutions. 

Accessible research data contributes to greater transparency, reliability and efficiency of science. It simplifies the process of verifying research results, aids international partnerships and allows for the better usage of public funds.

The updated Research Data Open Access politics have signifcant consequences for scientific and academic libraries. They will recieve a new, expanded role in the open science system and become an important link between legal departments, IT, technology transfer centers and data experts (data stewards, data curators).

The most important changes in the new Research Data Open Access politics:

1. Openness as a standard

Open access to research data financed from public funds is to become a rule, not an exception – according to the „open as much as possible, restricted as little as necessary” principle.

2. New obligations for intitutions

Universities and scientific units will be obliged to implement institutional open access politics, as well as provide support for scientists in the area of data management (for example, by hiring data stewards).

3. Legislative changes

Certain modifications to legal regulations are planned (including the copyright law, the higher education act) in order to make safe and lawful research data sharing easier.

4. Introducing the national competence network and strengthening the infrastructure

The ministry plans to establish the National Open Research Data Competences Center, as well as the Regional Competences Centers, both of which will support implementing standards and staff training. In addition, the nationial IT infrastructure for storing, sharing and reusing data is to be gradually expanded (such as The National Data Store, PLGrid, the PIONIER network).

5. FAIR as the foundation

Shared data is to be in accordance with the FAIR principles: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable.

The new politics introduce a more complex and diligent approach to open research data management, taking into account the legal, organizational, infrastructural and competency aspects. It is a step towards harmonizing with UE policies and implementing the FAIR priciples to the research practice in Poland.

Research data can be deposited in PublicUM.

Contact information: