The CNRS Open Research Data Department (DDOR) presents its review of the actions undertaken between 2019 and 2025 to promote open science. Structured around the 7 main objectives of the roadmap, it highlights the progress, challenges, and concrete achievements of this ambitious policy, with a flagship objective: achieving 100% open access to publications by CNRS researchers. To mark this publication, this post highlights the role played by the CCSD and its platforms in this review.
First, in this year marking HAL’s 25th anniversary, it is worth recalling that the CNRS has been a pioneer in opening up science, having created both the CCSD and HAL. As the implementation of open science accelerated in France and worldwide, the CNRS defined its open science policy as early as 2018 and formalized it in its roadmap, published in 2019.
Strong support for HAL and incentives for depositing
HAL is a cornerstone of the CNRS’s strategy, as open access to publications relies largely on the platform. Accordingly, the review highlights the establishment of a new governance structure for HAL, including a Partners’ Assembly and a new funding model based on contributions from portal operators. Contributions from the 155 portals total €700,000 per year. CNRS support in terms of human resources has enabled the CCSD to double its staff over the course of a few years.
Among the many improvements, the review highlights several features developed as part of the EquipX+ HALiance project:
- The deposit suggestion service, developed in collaboration with Inist, identifies eligible publications and enables researchers to automatically import the full text of their publications into HAL. Approximately 20,000 documents have been added through this tool.
- The development of the link between publications and data, which falls under the pillar dedicated to research data.
To achieve the goal of 100% open access publications, the CNRS established as early as 2019 a strong incentive to deposit publications in HAL for researchers’ activity reports (CRAC and Ribac). From 2020 onward, this incentive was reinforced: publications were considered only if their full text had been deposited.
A HAL-CNRS portal was also launched in 2019 to showcase the CNRS’s scientific output. As of September 2026, it lists more than 965,000 documents (885,000 at the time covered by the review). The results are substantial: nearly 95% of publications by CNRS researchers are now available in open access.
Other achievements covered in the review include the CNRS’s support for research infrastructures seeking CoreTrustSeal certification. HAL is one of the seven infrastructures cited in the review as having obtained this certification.
Episciences, an exemplary model of open and responsible scientific publishing
The CNRS has included the development of Episciences in its strategy to support the diamond model of scientific publishing, which is based on free access for both authors and readers. This model has been strengthened thanks to savings generated by the CNRS’s decision to cancel its subscriptions to Springer and Scopus, which have been reinvested in academic infrastructures. Furthermore, the CNRS has publicly endorsed the Action Plan for Diamond Open Access, launched in Europe in March 2022, and became one of its first signatories.
The review emphasizes the key role of Episciences as a major player in the international movement for diamond publishing. The platform took part, among other events, in the 1st Global Summit on Diamond Open Access in Toluca (Mexico, 2023), as well as in conferences organized by OPERAS and Diamas in Europe. Its development has been marked by the arrival of 20 new journals since 2020, bringing the total to 45 indexed journals in 2025. As of September 2026, it hosts 47 diamond open-access journals.
The major role of the CCSD in promoting open science
As the operator of the platforms, the CCSD plays a key and multifaceted role in implementing the CNRS roadmap for open science. Its activities range from training and supporting research stakeholders to active involvement in European and international initiatives.
Within the pillar dedicated to training and skills, the review cites the CCSD’s overall approach to improving its training offer for researchers and Scientific and Technical Information (STI) professionals, the overhaul of training methods and content, the launch of a training platform (fourth quarter of 2024), and the provision of new HAL documentation (2024–2025). These initiatives strengthen researchers’ autonomy and foster the adoption of open science principles within the scientific community.
The CCSD also supports the CNRS’s strategy by establishing itself as a key player in international cooperation on open science, notably through its contribution to the building of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).
The review also highlights the CCSD’s involvement in COAR, which brings together more than 150 members and partners worldwide. The development and promotion of the Notify protocol is a flagship action of the CCSD within COAR: it is a key tool for interoperability, enabling fluid exchanges between platforms such as HAL, Nakala, recherche.data.gouv, or Software Heritage.
The CCSD organized the annual COAR assembly in Lyon in 2019. In 2025, the director of the CCSD was elected as a member of the COAR Executive Committee for a three-year term, thereby recognizing her leadership in the field. The Open Research Data Department (DDOR) also participates in COAR’s international meetings.
The review of the actions carried out between 2019 and 2025 by the CNRS powerfully illustrates its commitment to open, accessible, and collaborative science. It shows that the CCSD and its platforms HAL and Episciences play a decisive role in this endeavor.