Open Science Monitoring

The Helmholtz Association is a key driver of Open Science in Germany. Together with relevant working groups, the Helmholtz Open Science Office monitors a range of Open Science indicators.

Open Access Publishing

  • 86,5 %

    The Open Access rate for Helmholtz, publication year 2024

  • This status is based on the latest survey conducted in April 2026, covering the 2025 reporting year and including Gold, Green and Diamond Open Access publications. The 12-month delay accounts for the customary publication embargoes associated with the Green Open Access route. The overall Open Access rate is calculated based on the annual publication lists provided by the individual Helmholtz Centers.

Open Research Data and Open Research Software Publications

Helmholtz is currently developing multidimensional Quality Indicators for research data and research software to systematically assess and promote the quality, reusability, and visibility of research data and software. Starting with publication year 2028, these indicators will also be reported on this webpage.

Institutional Policies for Research Data and Research Software

The Helmholtz Open Science Policyis the central guiding document for Open Science in the Helmholtz Association. Based on this, the Helmholtz Research Centers are encouraged to develop tailored institutional policies for handling research data and  research software.

Research Data Repositories

  • 91

    The number of active research data infrastructures operated by Helmholtz or with Helmholtz participation (as of May 2026)

  • This figure is based on the annual inventory maintained by the Helmholtz Open Science Office and includes active research data infrastructures operated by Helmholtz or with Helmholtz participation that are linked to re3data.

NFDI Participation

The Helmholtz Association is a central driver of the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI). Helmholtz Centers are involved in 21 of the 26 NFDI consortia and play a major role in developing cross-consortia services such as IAM4NFDI, PID4NFDI, and nfdi.software. All Centers are also members of the NFDI Association. The Helmholtz Open Science Office maintains an overview of Helmholtz’s involvement in the NFDI.

EOSC Participation

Helmholtz Centers are key stakeholders in the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). Since 2018, they have been involved in 23 of the 49 ongoing and completed EOSC projects, while the Association is represented in 8 of the 13 future projects launching from 2026. In addition, eight centers are active as members or observers in the EOSC Association, and representatives of the Helmholtz Association have been active in every EOSC task force for the 2024–2026 term.

The Helmholtz Open Science Office, together with the Helmholtz Office Brussels, maintains an overview of Helmholtz’s involvement in the EOSC.

CoARA and DORA

International research assessment reform initiatives provide key drivers for the Open Science transition. Currently, 5 Helmholtz Centers are signatories of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), while the Max Delbrück Center and the Helmholtz Open Science Office are a members of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA). The Helmholtz Open Science Office maintains an overview of Helmholtz’s involvement in DORA/CoARA.