Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information
On 12 June 2026, Rector Magnificus Jan Smits signed the Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information on behalf of Maastricht University (UM), reaffirming UM’s commitment to more transparent, accessible and responsible research information.
By joining the Declaration, UM supports a shared international effort to improve how research information is produced, shared and used, to strengthen openness, accountability and fairness in research assessment.
What is the Barcelona Declaration?
The Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information is an international initiative that calls on research organisations to commit to making research information openly available and to improving the infrastructure that supports it.
It recognises that research information, which includes information about publications, datasets, software, researchers, organisations, and funding information, plays a crucial role in how research is assessed and understood. The Declaration encourages institutions to move away from closed systems and towards open, interoperable and transparent research information ecosystems.
Through the Declaration, signatories commit to:
- making openness the default for research information;
- working with services and systems that support open research information;
- supporting the sustainability of open research information infrastructures; and
- collectively advancing the transition towards open research information.
© Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information, CC BY 4.0
Why this matters to Maastricht University
For UM, signing the Declaration aligns with its broader ambitions to Open Science, Recognition & Rewards, and responsible research practices.
Open research information is essential for:
- making research outputs more visible and accessible
- improving transparency in research evaluation
- supporting fair and responsible assessment of academic work
- strengthening the societal impact of research
By committing to the Barcelona Declaration, UM aims to further contribute to a research environment in which openness is the default.
A first important step in this direction has already been taken through UM's investment in a partner subscription with OpenAlex, an open and transparent source of research information, and the decision to end its Scopus license from 2027 onwards. These choices reflect the university's dedication to supporting open research information infrastructures and reducing reliance on closed, proprietary systems. In the coming years, UM will further explore how the principles of the Declaration can be reflected in its research information systems, reporting practices and approaches to research assessment.
Signed during the Open Science Festival Limburg
Maastricht University signed the Barcelona Declaration during the first Open Science Festival Limburg. The signing brought together researchers, support staff and students, and highlighted the close connection between Open Research Information and the broader Open Science movement at UM.
Keynote by Ludo Waltman during the Open Science Festival Limburg 2026