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OpenAIRE Engages at LIBER Winter Event 2024: Championing Trusted Scholarly Communication Services

Feb 5, 2025

On November 26-27, 2024, the LIBER Winter Event 2024 transformed the University of Maribor in Slovenia into a vibrant hub for knowledge sharing and collaboration. Attended by a dynamic mix of librarians, researchers, and policymakers, the event offered a platform to address the future of Open Science and research infrastructure across Europe. OpenAIRE, a key player in the Open Science ecosystem, made a remarkable impact through an interactive workshop led by Maja Dolinar, OpenAIRE’s User Engagement and EOSC Liaison.

A Convergence of Minds at LIBER Winter Event 

The LIBER Winter Event is a hallmark annual gathering, where professionals from LIBER libraries, working groups, and international projects unite to discuss pressing issues and future directions in scholarly communication. This year’s event was co-hosted by the University of Maribor Library and the Central Technical Library at the University of Ljubljana, further emphasizing Slovenia's commitment to advancing research and open knowledge.

Preceding the main event, a national gathering organized in collaboration with the Slovenian Library Association provided local stakeholders an opportunity to set the stage for discussions on innovative solutions tailored to the regional context.

Spotlight on OpenAIRE: Trusted Scholarly Communication Services 

The highlight of OpenAIRE’s engagement was Workshop 12, titled "Trusted Scholarly Communication Services in Support of University Alliances." Maja Dolinar led the participants through a hands-on exploration of how OpenAIRE’s tools can transform research alliances by fostering Open Science practices.

Key takeaways from the workshop included: 

  • Customizable Tools for Collaboration: Attendees discovered the power of OpenAIRE’s CONNECT Gateways, which allow university alliances to showcase research outputs under a unified platform, enhancing visibility and fostering collaboration.
  • Monitoring Research Impact: The MONITOR service, another OpenAIRE innovation, offers real-time metrics to track research outputs, funding sources, and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These insights are invaluable for improving the transparency and impact of research contributions.
  • Practical Co-Creation Activities: Through group discussions and co-creation sessions, participants collaborated to design tailored training materials and workflows that can support Open Science within their institutions.

Addressing Challenges and Creating Opportunities 

OpenAIRE’s recent survey on university alliances, presented during the workshop, shed light on the challenges university alliances face in adopting Open Science practices. From interoperability issues to limited resources, participants resonated with the need for robust support systems. By facilitating dialogue and offering practical tools, OpenAIRE showcased its commitment to overcoming these barriers.

One particularly inspiring example shared was the success of Aurora University Alliance, which used OpenAIRE’s infrastructure to link research outputs with Sustainable Development Goals. This collaboration has set a benchmark for leveraging OpenAIRE’s services to achieve meaningful impact.

A Vision for the Future 

OpenAIRE’s presence at the LIBER Winter Event underscored its mission to shift scholarly communication towards openness and transparency. By integrating advanced infrastructure with community-driven methodologies, OpenAIRE continues to empower stakeholders to adopt Open Science practices seamlessly.

As the curtains closed on this year’s event, participants left not only with new knowledge and tools but also with a shared vision of a more open, collaborative, and sustainable research landscape. OpenAIRE’s engagement served as a testament to the transformative potential of trusted scholarly communication services in shaping the future of academia.

*Learn more about OpenAIRE’s services for university alliances here