116th Helmholtz Open Science Newsletter

Issue of September 16, 2026

1. GWK Secures Long-Term NFDI Funding from 2029 and Confirms Second-Round Consortia

The Joint Science Conference (Gemeinsame Wissenschaftskonferenz – GWK) has decided to continue funding the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) from 2029 to 2038 under a new federal-state agreement, allocating up to €98.7 million annually. At the same time, the GWK confirmed the extension of all eleven consortia from the second funding round (BERD@NFDI, DataPLANT, FAIRmat, PUNCH4NFDI, NFDI4Earth, NFDI4DataScience, NFDI4Health, NFDI4Microbiota, NFDI4Objects, FAIRagro, and NFDI4Memory). 

The decision was based on a structural evaluation by the German Science and Humanities Council (Wissenschaftsrat – WR). The Council emphasized that while the NFDI has laid essential groundwork for research data management in Germany, it must now evolve to meet growing challenges. Alongside its recommendation for long-term consolidation starting in 2029, the WR advised organizing activities within the NFDI Association into scientific divisions, launching a DFG-led innovation program, and strengthening links to European initiatives such as EOSC. By following the WR’s recommendation, the GWK decision provides long-term planning security for the established data infrastructures. 

At the same time, this commitment reinforces the strategic role of the Helmholtz Association within the NFDI, with its centers participating in 21 out of 26 consortia and actively shaping key base services such as IAM4NFDI, PID4NFDI, and nfdi.software. A detailed overview of Helmholtz's participation is available on the Helmholtz Open Science Office website. 

Further information can be found in the reports by the German Science and Humanities Council and the GWK decision.

2. PID Roadmap for Germany: DFG project PID Network Publishes Final Results

Following a three-year project run, the funding period for PID Network Deutschland came to a close in August 2026. Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG, Project Number: 506475377), the initiative was jointly spearheaded by DataCite, the German National Library (DNB), the Helmholtz Open Science Office, Bielefeld University Library, and the German National Library of Science and Technology (TIB).

As the project draws to a close, key outcomes are now available that lay a solid foundation for a sustainable, connected PID ecosystem in Germany. A major milestone is the publication of the national "PID Roadmap for Research and Cultural Heritage Institutions in Germany" (German: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21703674  | English: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21713802). The roadmap delivers a strategic framework featuring five actionable recommendations, grounded in empirical data gathered throughout the project – including a nationwide PID survey whose findings were published in the Data Science Journal (https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2026-028). An online seminar presenting the roadmap and discussing its recommendations will take place, Wednesday, September 16, 2026, from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM CEST (register here).

Additionally, further hands-on resources developed during the project are now available. These include reports on pilot projects conducted with LMU Munich and TU Dortmund, illustrating how community-driven metadata guidelines can be translated into concrete enhancements for local repositories and DOI workflows.

These results lay a strong groundwork for a sustainable PID ecosystem. However, ongoing coordinated efforts will remain essential to further strengthen interoperability, transparency, and trust in PID systems moving forward.

3. New Developments in Research Information: GEPRIS Modernized and Version 2.1 of the KDSF Released

In July, the German Research Foundation (DFG) has modernized and expanded the content of GEPRIS, the DFG’s central information system for funded projects. According to the DFG, the new version offers “improved navigation, more powerful search functions and a modern, accessible design”. In addition to a visual redesign featuring a responsive and accessible layout, the data is now better structured and linked. The search functions have been expanded so that context-based filters can be used to search for projects, individuals, and institutions in a more targeted manner than before. In addition, project results and publications are now displayed more consistently and, where available, with linked DOIs. The information from GEPRIS remains freely available. Unfortunately, however, an application programming interface (API) for retrieving the data in a structured format is still not available. According to the DFG’s frequently asked questions (FAQ), such access is available only upon request and “subject to conditions that must be assessed on a case-by-case basis”, and only “for academic research purposes”. In this regard, the DFG still has potential for improvement on the path toward open, reusable funding metadata.

At the same time, in July, the Commission for Research Information in Germany (Kommission für Forschungsinformationen in Deutschland – KFiD) updated the KDSF standard for research information in Germany to version 2.1. The KDSF serves as a reference for research information management at universities and research institutions and as a guideline for reports and descriptions of research information. The major update to version 2.0, which took place last year, already constituted a fundamental structural advancement of the research information standard. With the recent publication of KDSF 2.1, significant content-related enhancements have been made—particularly in the area of knowledge transfer – which the community had long sought, as well as the implementation of data protection recommendations from an independent legal assessment. A documentation provides an overview of all changes. The KFiD also offers a recently launched open registry for awards and prizes (Offenes Register für Auszeichnungen und Preise – ORAP) as well as a FIS map (FIS-Landkarte), which has also been recently updated.

4. Implementation of the Helmholtz Quality Indicator for Research Software in the Research Software Directory

Research software is a vital component of modern science. As part of international efforts to reform research assessment, the Helmholtz Association has developed quality indicators to recognize data and software as distinct scientific contributions beyond traditional text publications. Grounded in the FAIR principles, these criteria systematically evaluate the quality of data and software publications using a maturity model. Read more here. The GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences and Helmholtz Federated IT Services (HIFIS) have now integrated the Helmholtz quality indicator for software publications as a standard feature into the Helmholtz Research Software Directory (RSD). 

Helmholtz developers can now independently assess their RSD-registered software publications against the defined quality dimensions. The tool processes the input and generates a maturity profile that objectively reflects the current state of the software. This provides developers with clear, transparent insights into potential areas for improvement regarding transparency, reusability, and openness.

Further details on the implementation and usage of the new feature are documented in the official HIFIS announcement.

5. Helmholtz Modular Curriculum Vitae Template Published

The Helmholtz Modular Curriculum Vitae Template is designed to support recruitment, appointment, and promotion processes within the Helmholtz Association and beyond. It is based on the CV format developed by the Helmholtz Joint Initiative for Research and Innovation and incorporates recommendations from the Helmholtz Task Group Research Assessment and the Helmholtz Open Science Office, including additional evaluation criteria identified through a Helmholtz-wide survey. 

The CV template supports the visualization of a broad range of contributions to research by narrative means and thereby enables a more comprehensive and balanced assessment of academic performance combining quantitative as well as qualitative dimensions. The CV template is not intended to be presented to applicants in its entirety; instead, it serves as a tool to selection or hiring committees in identifying which modules and criteria are most relevant to the position in question and making additions or modifications where appropriate. To maximize usability and accessibility, the modular CV is provided in several file formats (PDF, DOCX, and ODT); for more information, see here. 

6. Project Launched: Advancing Research Assessment Through Integrated Open Practices and Narrative (ARION)

The EU-funded project ARION (Advancing Research Assessment through integrated Open practices and Narrative), starting in September 2026, advances responsible research assessment across Europe by turning established principles into practical, scalable solutions. European research assessment remains heavily reliant on outdated metrics that undervalue diverse research contributions such as data stewardship, mentoring, and societal engagement. While CoARA and DORA have established principles for responsible research assessment, many institutions struggle to translate these frameworks into everyday practice, resulting in fragmented reform efforts across Europe. 

ARION addresses this implementation gap through digital infrastructure integration supporting four intervention tools adapted through 8 pilot institutions: 1) Enhanced Digital Researcher Profiles to make invisible contributions visible through Open Infrastructure integration; 2) Narrative CVs enabling researchers to articulate diverse impacts beyond traditional metrics; 3) Institutional Model Policies providing change management frameworks for embedding reforms into governance; and 4) HR Toolkits aligned with ResearchComp frameworks for systematic adoption. The project supports fairer, more transparent and holistic assessment practices that recognize the full diversity of research contributions. Together with the Helmholtz Open Science Office, 13 further project partner institutions are involved; further information can be found here. 

7. UNESCO Open Science Dashboards

The UNESCO Open Science Platform offers an Open Science dashboard that provides an overview of how member states are implementing the UNESCO Recommendations on Open Science, based on a 2025 survey. Survey questions can be selected from seven different categories to visually display the responses from member states, such as whether a country promotes the UNESCO recommendations or whether open science infrastructures exist. It is also possible to view the distribution of responses globally or sorted by region. Another feature is a display of the most frequently mentioned challenges and concerns.

This dashboard is one of many other open science dashboards - an overview over such dashboards can be found on the website of the project OA Datenpraxis.

8. The Open Science Framework OSF Drastically Reduces its Functions as of February 2027

On August 11, the US-based non-profit organization Center for Open Science (COS) announced that it will drastically reduce the functionality of the platform Open Science Framework (OSF) to focus on core functions such as open accessibility of research projects. The unique aspect of OSF has been its ability to enable collaborative work on research projects within open science structures since its inception in 2012, along with the simplicity of publishing data or entire projects at desired times. This made OSF an important link between active working environments and pure publication platforms – all with solid structures for long-term availability, DOI distribution, and storage capacities.

Effective November 16, 2026, no new projects can be initiated, and after February 19, 2027, OSF will reduce its projects to a read-only function. Prospectively, private projects will likely be removed, while the functions of OSF Registries and OSF Preprints are expected to be retained. According to COS, the unstable funding situation – with a significant cut in funding in 2025 and 2026, rising operational costs ($4-5 million annually) as well as the now more robust offerings of open science platforms – have prompted this restructuring. While in Germany, the Nationale Forschungsdateninfrastruktur NFDI is playing a crucial role in highlighting the importance of open, sustainably financed, science-led infrastructures, many researchers globally will have to establish new workflows due to this change.

Further details about the transition are explained on the website OSF-Help.

9. Developments in Copyright Reform at the EU Level, Including the Secondary Publication Right

At the EU level, efforts are underway to reform copyright law. The European Commission has launched a consultation process to gather feedback on targeted measures aimed at assessing the practical impact of the 2019 “Copyright in the Digital Single Market” Directive and modernizing EU copyright law. A call for evidence was conducted in May and June, during which 432 submissions were received from organizations representing all areas of interest related to copyright. The German science community also participated; for example, the Alliance of German Science Organizations submitted and published a response. A public consultation is scheduled to follow in a second phase of the process later this year.

This initiative and topic address key objectives of the European Research Area (ERA). After all, copyright law influences how researchers can access, use, and reuse digital content, which in turn is crucial for data exchange, innovation, and scientific collaboration in Europe. A key component of the ongoing debate is therefore the secondary publication right for scholarly publications. It is intended to grant authors of publicly funded research the right to make a version of their work – such as the manuscript or the publisher’s version – freely accessible in open-access repositories after a certain period or immediately, even if publisher contracts restrict this. To date, national regulations on the secondary publication right – which vary from country to country – exist only in a few EU member states (e.g., Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, and Slovenia), resulting in a patchwork of rules. In the context of the ERA, EU-wide harmonization is therefore being considered. 

Studies conducted in 2024 and 2026 analyzed the economic effects of an EU-wide secondary publication right and a harmonized copyright exception for research purposes. The goal is to facilitate cross-border access to and reuse of research results, thereby strengthening open science within the ERA. Specifically, discussions are underway to introduce a mandatory, EU-wide uniform right to secondary publication – ideally without an embargo and with protection against contractual circumvention. These initiatives are linked to the ERA Policy Agenda 2025–2027, which, among other things, calls for a strengthening of open science (“Enabling open science via sharing and reuse of data, including through the European Open Science Cloud”).

10. Editor Resignation and Founding of Diamond Journal Semantics of Natural Languages at OLH

The editors of the Springer Nature journal Natural Language Semantics have resigned in response to the publisher’s demand to significantly increase the number of publications (see an article on Retraction Watch for more on this). The old journal is being discontinued, as announced on the journal’s website. In its place, the diamond open access journal Semantics of Natural Languages is being launched as its spiritual successor, as the editors announce in an open letter. The first accepted articles are already available as pre-publication versions.

The new journal is published by the Open Library of Humanities, which has published an in-depth interview with the editorial team. Among other things, it provides insights into the decision-making process behind the termination of the previous journal and the creation of a new one, as well as the editors’ varying levels of familiarity with (diamond) open-access models.

This is not the first time such a situation has occurred at a well-known linguistics journal. The best-known case is likely that of the journal Lingua. which was succeeded by the journal Glossa. In 2024, the editors of the journal Syntax stepped down and founded the diamond open access journal Syntactic Theory and Research, which is also published by the Open Library of Humanities.

A list of such occurrences, independent of discipline, is maintained at the Retraction Watch Mass Resignation List.

11. On Our Own Behalf: Join Our New Matrix Channel for Open Science Discussions

As part of the Helmholtz Association's transition from Mattermost to the federated chat platform Matrix in July 2026, the Helmholtz Open Science Office has updated its chat service. The new Matrix channel “Helmholtz Open Science” serves as an open, accessible platform for quick exchanges, discussions, and networking on Open Science – welcoming both Helmholtz staff and the broader external community. We look forward to continuing our Open Science conversations with you there! Join our Matrix channel here.

Save the Dates

Recommended Reading

Ad-hoc-Arbeitsgruppe "Resilienz in der Wissenschaft" des Senats der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). (2026). Positionspapier zur Stärkung der Freiheit und Resilienz der Wissenschaften: Orientierungen und Empfehlungen / Position Paper on Strengthening the Academic Freedom and Resilience of Research: Guidance and Recommendations. Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21353471  

Barnett, A., & Spick, M. (2026). Who chooses open peer review and is it an indicator of article quality? An observational study of PLOS journals. MetaArXiv (OSF). https://doi.org/10.31222/osf.io/2b7z5_v1  

DINI-AG Künstliche Intelligenz. (2026). Positionspapier: Für Digitale Souveränität im Bereich Künstlicher Intelligenz. DINI Schriften 23-de, Version 1.0. https://doi.org/10.18452/38456 

Euler, E. (2026). Titelrechte und wissenschaftsgeleitetes Publizieren: Entstehung, Bedeutung und Sicherstellung von Titelrechten. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.21623321  

Fadeeva, Y. (2026). Wissenschaftstracking und Lock-in-Effekt: Ein Deal gegen digitale Souveränität. Melusina Press. https://doi.org/10.26298/1981-5920https://doi.org/10.26298/1981-5920 

Lee, T., Gregory, K. & Rushforth, A. (2026). Advancing open research information: exploring the persistence of proprietary bibliographic databases. https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/ezkj7_v1  

Vleugel, M., & Ferguson, L. M. (2026). CoARA Generic Presentation - German/Deutsch. CoARA. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21642897

Wildermuth, M., Lange, M., Kindling, M., Hentschel, A. & Fischer, G. (2026). Offen, aber rechtens! Rückblick auf einen Workshop zu rechtlichen Fragen rund um Open Research (BiblioCon 2026). Open Research Blog Berlin. https://doi.org/10.59350/z6xhw-pj107 

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