Realising the fifth freedom: Recommendations for Open Science in future EU research funding

This report outlines recommendations for the European Commission to further integrate and strengthen Open Science in the next Framework Programme (FP10). The aim is to realize the "fifth freedom"—the free circulation of knowledge—as a core objective.<b>Key Recommendations for FP10:</b><b>Balance Openness and Protection:</b> Reaffirm the principle of "As Open as Possible, As Closed as Necessary". Recommendations include retaining opt-outs for sensitive data, improving technical support for responsible sharing, and fostering capacity building in research organizations rather than enforcing blanket restrictions.<b>Responsible Research Assessment:</b> Mainstream reform to incentivize Open Science behaviors. This includes utilizing narrative CVs, expanding metrics beyond publications to include data and software, and requiring beneficiaries to commit to research assessment reform principles.<b>Global Collaboration:</b> Align FP10 guidelines with UNESCO recommendations and foster global partnerships on infrastructure and data interoperability.<b>Champion Equity:</b> Address disparities by promoting "Diamond" (no-fee) open access, supporting capacity building in widening countries, and ensuring Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences are supported.<b>Sustainability of Infrastructure:</b> Ensure long-term financial and organizational support for critical Open Science infrastructures, such as the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), and professionalize support roles like data stewards.<b>AI and Open Science:</b> Leverage AI for literature mining and reproducibility checks while ensuring alignment with "Digital Humanism" and European law. Research outputs should be "born twice FAIR"—Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable, and Fully AI Ready.Implementing these measures will solidify Open Science as the default <i>modus operandi</i> for research, maximizing benefits to society and the economy.