Transitioning to Open Infrastructures for Responsible Research Assessment: Barriers, Enablers, and Strategic Recommendations

Abstract:  This report, Transitioning to Open Infrastructures for Responsible Research Assessment: Barriers, Enablers, and Strategic Recommendations, is a **pre-endorsed** output of the CoARA Working Group ''Towards Open Infrastructures for Responsible Research Assessment'' (OI4RRA). It presents empirical findings from interviews with 17 experts across 11 countries, identifying key barriers, enablers, and strategic actions for advancing open, transparent, and community-governed infrastructures in research assessment.

The study highlights the persistent dependence on proprietary bibliographic databases, limited policy coordination, and capacity gaps while showcasing national and institutional examples that demonstrate effective strategies for transitioning to open infrastructures.

Building on previous OI4RRA publications (Principles and Framework; Conceptual Architecture; and Policy Briefs on Transitioning from Closed to Open Infrastructures), this report offers a roadmap for Research Funding and Research Performing Organisations. It proposes actionable recommendations across six key domains: human capital, institutional roles, sustainable funding, policy alignment, career incentives, and ethical governance.

The report contributes to a growing body of evidence supporting the systemic adoption of open infrastructures for responsible, equitable, and transparent research assessment.