Open Science Development Strategy
of the National Aerospace University
"Kharkiv Aviation Institute" for 2026–2030
Approved:
By the Academic Council
of the National Aerospace University
"Kharkiv Aviation Institute"
Minutes No. 4 dated October 21, 2026
Enacted by Rector's Order No. 432 dated October 21, 2026
General Principles
Open science is a modern approach to the organization and conduct of scientific activities, which involves increasing the accessibility of scientific knowledge, transparency of the research process, opportunities for the reuse of scientific results, and expanding interaction among researchers, scientific institutions, educational establishments, business, and society. The implementation of open science principles contributes to enhancing the quality, reproducibility, and societal significance of research, developing international scientific cooperation, and ensuring more effective utilization of research results.
The relevance of developing open science is driven by the transformation of the global research environment, the proliferation of digital technologies, the expansion of international research infrastructures, as well as the need to ensure the accessibility of scientific findings and to deepen Ukraine's integration into the European Research Area. Establishing institutional conditions for scaling open research practices, improving research data management, securing open access to scientific publications, and fostering a culture of responsible knowledge sharing has become of paramount importance.
For the National Aerospace University "Kharkiv Aviation Institute" (hereinafter referred to as the University, KHAI), the development of open science represents a crucial direction for improving the research environment, expanding international scientific collaboration, and increasing the accessibility of scientific achievements. As a technical university conducting research in aviation, aerospace technologies, radio electronics, information technologies, energy, and other high-tech sectors, KHAI requires the adoption of modern approaches to disseminating scientific findings, managing research data, utilizing digital research tools, and ensuring the interoperability of scientific information with international systems.
The development of open science at the University entails building a comprehensive institutional ecosystem in which open access to scientific publications, proper research data management, the use of open licenses, the evolution of digital repositories, the dissemination of open research methodologies, and the reuse of scientific results become routine components of daily research practice. Another essential task is developing relevant competencies among scientific staff, academic personnel, and higher education students, as well as creating conditions to recognize researchers' contributions to the advancement of open science.
At the same time, the implementation of open science principles at KHAI must account for the specific nature of engineering and technical research, legal requirements regarding intellectual property protection, personal data, and confidential information, as well as national security imperatives. The openness of scientific results is realized taking into account justified legal, ethical, and security constraints, particularly regarding research related to defense technologies or dual-use items. Such an approach aims to ensure a balanced combination of openness, responsibility, and the protection of the legitimate interests of the University, researchers, and the state.
The Open Science Development Strategy of the National Aerospace University "Kharkiv Aviation Institute" for 2026–2030 (hereinafter referred to as the Strategy) is an institutional strategic planning document that defines the purpose, principles, priorities, tasks, and key mechanisms for implementing open science at the University. The Strategy aims to establish organizational, regulatory, informational, and technological conditions for the systematic application of open science principles in research activities, enhancing the accessibility of scientific results and strengthening KHAI's integration into the international scientific space.
The Strategy was developed taking into account the Development Strategy and the Scientific and Innovative Development Strategy of the University and is designed to complement them regarding the implementation of open research practices. It specifies institutional approaches to the openness of scientific activity without substituting the general priorities for the development of science, scientific-technical activity, and innovation defined by the relevant strategic documents of the University.
The implementation of the Strategy involves the consistent adoption of open science policies and procedures, the development of institutional research infrastructure, the enhancement of publication and repository practices for research outputs, the dissemination of competencies in research data management, the incentive of responsible knowledge sharing, and the introduction of monitoring mechanisms for achieved results. Particular attention will be paid to aligning institutional practices with international open science approaches while ensuring their conformity with the University's profile and needs.
The legal, regulatory, and strategic basis for the development and implementation of the Strategy comprises the Constitution of Ukraine; the Laws of Ukraine "On Scientific and Scientific-Technical Activity", "On Education", "On Higher Education", "On Copyright and Related Rights", "On Information", "On Access to Public Information", "On Personal Data Protection", and other regulatory legal acts of Ukraine in the fields of science, education, information, and intellectual property; the National Plan for Open Science approved by the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated October 8, 2022 No. 892-r; the Roadmap for Ukraine's Integration into the European Research Area until 2027 approved by Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine dated December 31, 2025 No. 1732; and the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science adopted on November 23, 2021. The development of the Strategy also accounts for relevant European Union documents, notably Directive (EU) 2019/1024 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on open data and the re-use of public sector information, and Directive (EU) 2019/790 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market.
Mission
To foster an open, transparent, and globally integrated research environment in which the free exchange of knowledge, accessibility of research results, and responsible management of research data drive scientific advancement, innovation diffusion, and the enhanced societal impact of research activities.
Vision
By 2030, the National Aerospace University "Kharkiv Aviation Institute" is a university with a mature open science system, fully integrated into the European and global research areas, ensuring open access to scientific outcomes, responsible research data management, widespread adoption of open research practices, and international knowledge exchange in compliance with academic integrity, intellectual property protection, and national security requirements.
Values
Transparency, verification, critical analysis, and reproducibility. The openness of scientific activity at all stages of the research process forms the foundation of credibility, reliability, and quality in scientific results. The University supports practices for open dissemination of scientific publications, methodologies, research data, and other research outputs that facilitate independent verification, critical scrutiny, research reproducibility, and public trust in science.
Equal opportunities. The University promotes equal opportunity in accessing scientific knowledge, participating in research activities, and utilizing research results regardless of place of residence, citizenship, gender, age, socio-economic status, career stage, field of study, language, health status, or other circumstances. Special emphasis is placed on overcoming digital, linguistic, infrastructural, and financial barriers that hinder researchers' participation in open science practices.
Responsibility, respect, and accountability. Open science is built on academic integrity, adherence to research ethics, respect for intellectual property rights, responsible use of scientific results, and accountability for the consequences of research activities. The University supports transparent scientific procedures, conflict-of-interest prevention, proper research data management, and the responsible dissemination of scientific information in compliance with legal requirements, personal data protection, and national security.
Collaboration, participation, and inclusiveness. The University cultivates a culture of open scientific collaboration at national and international levels, encouraging interdisciplinary interaction, knowledge sharing, and shared utilization of research resources. Vital components of open science include engaging students, early-career researchers, civil society representatives, industry partners, and other stakeholders in scientific communication and research initiatives, as well as honoring the diversity of knowledge systems, research methods, and forms of scientific contribution.
Flexibility. The University ensures adaptive approaches to open science implementation, accounting for the specifics of scientific disciplines, research workflows, available resources, and digital technology developments. Open science practices are chosen in alignment with the nature of research, international standards, and community needs, effectively balancing openness with adherence to ethical, legal, and security guidelines.
Sustainability. The University fosters a sustainable institutional system for open science based on the long-term development of digital research infrastructures, repositories, services for storing and disseminating scientific outputs, proper data management, and the enhancement of researchers' competencies. Open science sustainability requires ensuring long-term preservation, accessibility, and reusability of scientific results, supporting open and interoperable data formats, as well as advancing partnerships and resource models that enable equitable participation in the global scientific landscape.
The University consistently builds and develops a culture of open science within the academic community, integrating its values and principles into research activities, scientific communication, the educational process, and institutional management practices for research outputs. The implementation of these values is carried out according to the principle "as open as possible, as closed as necessary", taking into account legal, ethical, commercial, and security constraints.
Strategic Goals
1. Establish an effective institutional system for implementing open science at the University through the development and adoption of relevant policies, regulatory documents, and procedures, integrating open science principles into the research practices of structural units, and creating conditions for their systematic application in scientific activity.
2. Ensure open access to scientific results and develop proper research data management by upgrading institutional repositories, adopting international standards for data description and exchange, applying FAIR principles, and creating conditions for the long-term preservation, searchability, and reusability of research outputs, taking into account legal, ethical, and security limitations.
3. Advance open research practices and ensure the effective utilization of digital open science infrastructure by promoting the open dissemination of scientific publications, research data, methodologies, software, and other research outputs, developing interoperable digital services, and ensuring proper management of research materials.
4. Strengthen the University's international integration in the field of open science by expanding researchers' participation in international research networks and infrastructures, advancing open knowledge sharing, applying international standards and open science practices, and deepening cooperation with European and international partners.
5. Build a culture of open science and develop the competencies of research process participants by training scientific and teaching staff, as well as higher education students, in open access practices, research data management, the use of open licenses, adherence to academic integrity, and responsible dissemination of scientific results.
Strategic Tasks
Strategic Goal 1. Establish an effective institutional system for implementing open science at the University
Strategic tasks:
1.1. Conduct an assessment of the implementation status of the University's Open Science Policy and the compliance of current internal regulatory documents with modern international open science approaches; based on the assessment results, prepare proposals for their updating.
1.2. Allocate functions among the scientific library, units responsible for the organization of scientific activity, information technologies, and international cooperation.
1.3. Introduce annual monitoring of open science implementation at the University based on indicators of open access to publications, research data management, adoption of open research practices, and the development of relevant competencies.
1.4. Provide for taking into account the contribution of scientific and teaching staff to the development of open science when improving internal approaches to evaluating and recognizing research activity results, considering research quality, the specifics of fields of study, and principles of responsible evaluation.
Strategic Goal 2. Ensure open access to scientific results and develop proper research data management
Strategic tasks:
2.1. Ensure systematic population and enhancement of the digital institutional repository, expanding the representation of scientific publications, dissertations, research reports, and other materials in accordance with established publication rules.
2.2. Develop practical guidelines for research data management at all stages of the research lifecycle, including data collection, description, storage, archiving, publication, and reuse.
2.3. Implement FAIR principles during the preparation and publication of research data, ensuring proper dataset description, use of standardized metadata, searchability, and interoperability with relevant international resources.
2.4. Introduce the phased application of Data Management Plans (DMPs) for research projects and studies, primarily when required by funding conditions, agreements, or the nature of research activity, with subsequent scaling of this practice across the University.
2.5. Establish unified approaches to publishing research data and providing controlled access to them, taking into account legal requirements, copyright, personal data protection, contractual obligations, and national security.
Strategic Goal 3. Advance open research practices and ensure the effective utilization of digital open science infrastructure
Strategic tasks:
3.1. Promote the use of open research practices, including the publication of preprints, methodologies, protocols, software code, digital models, and other research materials where aligned with the research specifics and not in conflict with legal requirements, funding terms, and security constraints.
3.2. Develop guidelines on using external repositories, open science platforms, and relevant specialized resources for storing, sharing, and citing research data, software, and other digital outputs.
3.3. Improve the representation of the University's scientific results in the digital environment by adopting persistent international identifiers for researchers and research objects, updating metadata, and ensuring the interoperability of relevant information resources.
3.4. Enhance the openness of the University's research infrastructure by updating information regarding available scientific equipment, research centers, and laboratories, access terms, and opportunities for collaboration with internal and external researchers.
3.5. Assess the technical, organizational, and resource capacities for integrating the University's digital research resources into relevant national and international open science infrastructures, including the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), and execute measures identified through the assessment.
Strategic Goal 4. Strengthen the University's international integration in the field of open science
Strategic tasks:
4.1. Conduct an analysis of the participation of the University's scientific units in international research projects, networks, and initiatives in order to identify opportunities for expanding open research practices and the joint utilization of research results.
4.2. Ensure that researchers are informed about international programs, projects, and partnerships that involve the application of open science principles, research data management, and the development of open research infrastructures.
4.3. Promote the application of international approaches to open access, research data management, open-source software, and responsible research assessment during the preparation and implementation of international scientific projects.
4.4. Ensure the representation of the University's scientific results and research competencies in the international information space by updating English-language descriptions of scientific units, research infrastructure, and researcher profiles.
4.5. Explore opportunities for the University's participation in international initiatives and professional networks that contribute to the development of open science and the reform of research assessment, taking into account participation terms, potential commitments, and the University's resource capacity.
Strategic Goal 5. Build a culture of open science and develop the competencies of research process participants
Strategic tasks:
5.1. Organize systematic information sharing for scientific and academic staff, as well as higher education students, regarding open science principles, available tools, institutional policies, and opportunities for using open research practices.
5.2. Ensure the delivery of training events on open access to publications, research data management, implementation of FAIR principles, use of repositories, metadata, open licenses, and persistent identifiers.
5.3. Develop and disseminate methodical materials on copyright compliance, licensing, personal data protection, information security, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence tools in research activities.
5.4. Designate specialists within existing structural units responsible for providing methodological and consultative support to researchers on open science issues, particularly research data management, data management plan preparation, and publication of research findings.
5.5. Engage the Young Scientists Council, the Scientific Society of Students, Postgraduate Students, Doctoral Candidates, and Young Scientists, as well as student scientific societies, in promoting open science practices, organizing thematic seminars, sharing experiences, and promoting responsible open research.
Priority Directions for Achieving the Strategy
The achievement of the Strategy's goal at the National Aerospace University "Kharkiv Aviation Institute" will be carried out along the following main directions:
1. Ensuring proper organization of research and methodological work in the field of open science. This direction involves establishing the University's regulatory framework for open science and designating responsible units and official personnel. Methodological support for researchers will be provided by the Scientific Activity Support Department and the Scientific Library, which will develop guidelines, templates, and instructions. The implementation status of open science will be regularly analyzed, and its results will be taken into account when planning scientific activity.
2. Implementing research data management mechanisms both at the university level and at the level of individual research groups. At the University level, unified rules for collecting, describing, storing, and publishing research data will be established. Research groups will compile Data Management Plans for each scientific topic or project and adhere to them at all stages of research. Researchers will be consulted by data management specialists, while the institutional repository and recognized international repositories will be utilized for data storage.
3. Ensuring compliance of research data generated by university researchers with the FAIR principles. Data must be findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable by both humans and information systems. For this purpose, datasets will be accompanied by sufficient metadata, persistent identifiers (DOIs), and open licenses. Access to data will be restricted only when required by legal, ethical, commercial, or security considerations.
4. Reforming the research assessment system at the university in accordance with CoARA principles. Assessment will primarily rely on a qualitative analysis of the researcher's contribution, while quantitative scientometric indicators will play a supporting role. Open publications, published data, software, peer review, and participation in citizen science projects will be taken into account during rankings, appointments, and bonuses. The University initiates joining the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) and will adhere to the provisions of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).
5. Ensuring open access to the university's research infrastructure for researchers and citizens. Scientific equipment, laboratories, and digital resources of the University will be accessible to domestic and foreign researchers under transparent and equal conditions. To achieve this, it is planned to establish a Center for Shared Use of Scientific Equipment and publish a catalog of research infrastructure. Access procedures will account for security requirements, protection of restricted information, and intellectual property.
6. Ensuring high publication activity of university researchers and students in open access publications, particularly by publishing research materials in the early stages of research projects implementation. Researchers will be encouraged to publish results in peer-reviewed open access journals and deposit them in the University repository. Publishing preprints will allow for faster dissemination of results, receiving feedback from colleagues, and establishing research priority. The University's scientific journals will transition to a full open access model and support publications by young researchers and students.
7. Popularization of science, dissemination of scientific knowledge, and engagement of citizens in scientific activities. The University will inform society about the directions and results of its research through media, social networks, open lectures, exhibitions, and science festivals. Citizens will be involved in citizen science projects, particularly in data collection and analysis under the guidance of researchers. Such measures will contribute to growing trust in science and strengthening the societal impact of the University's research.
8. Familiarizing university students with the values, principles, and tools of open science and encouraging their use in student research activities. Open science issues will be included in educational programs in the form of separate courses, modules, or academic discipline topics. Students will master working with open data, repositories, open licenses, and academic integrity rules. Qualification works and student scientific publications are recommended to be made openly accessible in compliance with legal requirements.
Open Access to Research Results
Scientists of the National Aerospace University "Kharkiv Aviation Institute" are recommended to publish individual scientific research results in accordance with open science principles.
Scientific publications by university scientists should contain information on the availability of research data, as well as the contribution of each author to the research according to the Contributor Roles Taxonomy "CRediT", the source of research funding, and any conflict of interest.
Popularization of Science, Dissemination of Scientific Knowledge, and Engagement of Citizens in Research
Scientific units and the university:
– take measures to popularize open science taking into account international experience, in particular the principles of the European Citizen Science Association (ECSA);
– promote the formation and enhancement of professional competence of scientists and higher education students regarding open science;
– disseminate information in society regarding the directions and results of research conducted in scientific units and the university;
– align research directions with current societal challenges, values, needs, and expectations of the public;
– promote co-creation of knowledge and deepening dialogue among stakeholders (researchers, community representatives, policymakers, local self-government representatives, etc.);
– engage interested parties in discussing the research process and results at all stages of research activity (from identifying needs and designing the research project to evaluating the impact of obtained research results);
– conduct open communication to increase community representatives' trust in the process and results of scientific research;
– create conditions for attracting representatives of the non-academic sector to implement joint research projects, expand cooperation in such areas as crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, and scientific volunteering;
– join information and communication campaigns aimed at popularizing scientific achievements among the population, informing about opportunities to use scientific achievements in professional activities and daily life of citizens;
– spread an innovative culture among community residents by engaging them in the process of knowledge generation, research, interaction with the scientific community, and utilization of research results.
Expected Results of Strategy Implementation
At the university level, the following is expected:
– implementation of university policies on open science;
– increasing awareness levels and developing scientists' competence in open science issues;
– fostering a culture of openness and transparency of research at all stages of research activity;
– implementation of an effective system of proper research data management (based on FAIR principles);
– improvement of the quality assessment system for research institution performance and evaluation of scientific and academic staff;
– strengthening societal, academic, and economic impact, as well as increasing public trust in research results produced at the National Aerospace University "Kharkiv Aviation Institute";
– implementation of the practice of involving non-professional scientists in conducting research for data collection and analysis, evaluating research outcomes, etc.;
– promoting the popularization of science among citizens by disseminating information about the university's scientific research, organizing popularization events, etc.;
– conducting educational and outreach work with university students to encourage their application of open science principles.
Matrix of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Their Alignment with the Open Science Development Strategy
| KPI | Indicator of the University Development Strategy | Target Value | Strategic Goals (SG), Tasks, and Priority Directions of this Strategy Ensuring Achievement |
| KPI 1 | Share of graduates employed in their field of study at partner companies in high-tech sectors (aerospace industry, defense technologies, artificial intelligence, robotics) | not less than 65 % | SG 5 (Task 5.3); SG 1 (Task 1.5); Priority Direction 8 |
| KPI 4 | Share of non-budgetary revenues (grants, contracts, commercialization) in the overall structure of university income | not less than 50 % by 2030 | SG 1 (Tasks 1.4, 1.5); SG 2 (Task 2.5) |
| KPI 5 | Creation and ensuring the operation of an innovative (scientific) incubator to support scientific research, development, and startup projects | by 2030 | SG 2 (Task 2.4); SG 1 (Task 1.5) |
| KPI 7 | Attracting financial resources for the development of the university's material and technical base, including STEM laboratories, innovation and research spaces, and digital educational infrastructure | not less than 3 STEM laboratories and 4 laboratories and innovation spaces by 2029 | SG 1 (Task 1.1); SG 2 (Task 2.2); Priority Direction 5 |
| KPI 13 | Share of scientific and teaching staff involved in international educational or research projects | not less than 30 % by 2030 | SG 4 (Tasks 4.1–4.5); SG 1 (Task 1.4); SG 2 (Tasks 2.3, 2.5) |
| KPI 18 | Number of university activities in international technology alliances, consortia, and research initiatives | not less than 10 annually | SG 4 (Task 4.2); SG 3 (Task 3.3); Priority Direction 4 |
| KPI 19 | Average citation index (h-index) of the university or key scientific units | growth of not less than 20 % by 2030 | SG 1 (Task 1.3); SG 4 (Task 4.4); Priority Direction 6 |
| KPI 20 | Share of publications in Q1–Q2 quartile journals (Scopus / Web of Science) | not less than 10 % of the total number | SG 1 (Tasks 1.2, 1.3); Priority Direction 6 |
| KPI 21 | Number of patents (national, international, PCT) | not less than 10 per year | SG 2 (Task 2.4); SG 3 (Task 3.4) |
| KPI 26 | Improving the university's positions in national and international rankings | positive dynamics (quantitatively unspecified) | SG 1; SG 4 (Tasks 4.4, 4.5); Priority Directions 6, 7 |
| KPI 27 | Share of students participating in international competitions, hackathons, and engineering contests | not less than 5 % | SG 5 (Tasks 5.1, 5.2); Priority Direction 8 |
Matrix of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Their Alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals
| KPI | UN SDGs | University Contribution |
| KPI 1 Employment of graduates in high-tech sectors | SDG 4 "Quality Education" SDG 8 "Decent Work and Economic Growth" | Training specialists possessing skills in open science, research data management, and working in international teams for the aerospace industry, defense technologies, artificial intelligence, and robotics; promoting productive employment of graduates. |
| KPI 4 Share of non-budgetary revenues | SDG 8 "Decent Work and Economic Growth" SDG 9 "Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure" | Diversification of research funding sources through participation in grant programs (particularly "Horizon Europe", where data management plans and open access to publications are mandatory), execution of contract work, and commercialization of results. |
| KPI 5 Innovation (scientific) incubator | SDG 8 "Decent Work and Economic Growth" | Support for startup projects based on university research results; development of innovative entrepreneurship and job creation. |
| KPI 7 Development of material and technical base | SDG 4 "Quality Education" | Modernization of laboratory and digital infrastructure, including STEM laboratories and shared-use spaces open to students, researchers, and partners. |
| KPI 13 Participation of scientific and teaching staff in international projects | SDG 4 "Quality Education" SDG 9 "Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure" | Exchange of knowledge, data, and open science practices with foreign partners; integration of international project results into the educational process and research. |
| KPI 18 Participation in international alliances and consortia | SDG 9 "Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure" SDG 16 "Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions" | Participation in international technology alliances, consortia, and research initiatives (notably EOSC, CoARA); development of transparent, accountable, and open scientific institutions. |
| KPI 19 Citation index (h-index) | SDG 9 "Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure" | Growth in research visibility and citations due to open access publications, deposition in the university repository, and updating researcher profiles (ORCID, Scopus, Web of Science). |
| KPI 20 Publications in Q1–Q2 journals | SDG 9 "Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure" | Improving the quality of scientific results and their publishing in high-ranking publications, particularly open access ones. |
| KPI 21 Patent activity | SDG 9 "Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure" | Legal protection of R&D results, technology transfer to the real sector of the economy while maintaining a balance between openness and intellectual property protection. |
| KPI 26 Ranking positions | SDG 17 "Partnerships for the Goals" | Strengthening the international reputation of the university and its attractiveness for partnerships; publishing open data on contributions to SDG achievement for sustainability rankings (notably THE Impact Rankings). |
| KPI 27 Student participation in international competitions and hackathons | SDG 9 "Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure" | Fostering student engineering creativity and innovative thinking, particularly through working with open data and open-source software. |