Measures intended to encourage openness are clashing with efforts to reform assessment

Arguing about research assessment has been a central feature of seventy-five years of higher education policy. 

Fifteen national groups coordinating researcher assessment reform hold first meeting in Portugal

The targeted research Missions set up under Horizon Europe are turning three years old this year, and their ambitious logic is facing its first test in an upcoming review at the midpoint of the EU's €95.9 billion research programme.

The Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) recognizes the need to improve the ways in which the outputs of scholarly research are evaluated.

The European Commission is making a big push to reform research assessment, but Germany's university leaders are not convinced the call for change from above is the right way to deliver it.

Funders and other research organisations are embracing reviewed preprints as an alternative way to assess researchers, and call on others to do the same.

The document, which was facilitated by the European Commission, establishes new benchmarks regarding how research assessments should be performed.

EU science ministers signed off an agreement backing research assessment reform in Europe, alongside conclusions on open science, international cooperation and Horizon Europe missions.

The Swiss National Science Foundation's 'narrative' template seeks evidence of applicants' wider contributions to science.

Member states are set to adopt a position backing research assessment reform in Europe - but they'll stress that any reforms must take into account the diversity of research systems in the EU, according to a draft document seen by Science|Business. Research ministers will meet in Luxembourg on Friday to sign off Council conclusions for research assessment reform in Europe, alongside conclusions on open science, international cooperation and Horizon Europe missions.

The country has been increasing research funding for decades, but its rigid, time-bound approach to research assessment is stifling basic science.