Open Research: From Thought to Deed

Openness as a concept in scholarly communication is gaining increased traction with more and more universities and research institutes adopting the concept. But is it just a concept or even worst an aspiration? Open is difficult both politically and in practical terms and how many institutions actually move into the action and implementation phase? TU Dublin has achieved considerable success with open access to publications using the institutional repository Arrow@TUDublin. However, now we want to move into the implementation phase and become an open research university. Simultaneously we are involved with a project for the European University of Technology to initiate a similar process. This paper will discuss in practical terms the steps involved in implementing open research in a single institution and in a network of universities aligning with national and European policies and infrastructures. The challenges, cultural ethos and successes will be examined with a view to highlighting what works and what does not work. Ultimately, we will attempt to answer the question is Open practical?