This policy paper from the e-InfraNet project concerns open approaches for the research and higher education communities across the European Research Area (ERA). It has been produced to provide advice and guidance on this topic to the Commission.

Findings

Various European opinion leaders and technical experts from higher education and research worked together on the e-InfraNet project, in which the Netherlands was represented by SURF. The findings of the e-InfraNet policy report include:
- an assessment of the openness of the current landscape within European higher education and research;
- an overview of current international policy developments; and
- an overview of worldwide developments and initiatives.

In its broadest sense, ‘open’ encompasses:
* open access to research literature
* open data
* open educational resources
* open infrastructure and open standards
* open source software and open development
* open education
* open peer review
* open research
* open innovation

Joint benefits and issues

European opinion leaders and experts examined the context, motivations, developments and results of each of the ‘Opens’, revealing a collection of joint benefits and issues. Their study resulted in the recommendation for a coordinated policy approach, able to benefit all forms of ‘Open’.

Keywords

higher education · OER policy · OER research