Research project
OPENRAM: Opening Research Assessment to Multi-Contexts
OpenRAM aims to advance the field of research assessment by addressing its systemic limitations. This project will develop a transformative framework that integrates multi-perspective, participatory, and context-sensitive evaluation practices into research assessment, tailored to diverse geographic, disciplinary, and institutional contexts.
- Duration
- 2026 - 2030
- Contact
- Rodrigo Costas Comesana
- Funding
- Horizon Europe – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Partners
Hacettepe Universitesi, Universiteit Leiden, Siris Academic Sl, The University of Edinburgh, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Tieteellisten Seurain Valtuuskunnasta, Universidad de Costa Rica, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, University of Campinas – Unicamp, Universidad de Antioquia, Stellenbosch University, El Consejo Latinoamericano de Ciencias Sociales (CLACSO)
OpenRAM seeks to transform research assessment by moving beyond publication-based indicators such as Journal Impact Factors (JIF) and addressing their systemic biases. Current systems often overlook societal impact, undervalue diverse outputs like datasets or policy contributions, and marginalize knowledge from underrepresented regions. To respond to these challenges, OpenRAM introduces the Multiversatory, a participatory living lab that integrates diverse and federated data sources and develops context-sensitive indicators.
The Multiversatory combines conceptual development, empirical case studies, and capacity building to create fairer and more transparent assessment practices. It promotes inclusive and participatory approaches, addresses epistemic inequities by making visible diverse knowledge systems, and fosters equitable collaborations between the Global North and South. Case studies will explore career assessment, institutional evaluation, and national research systems, testing how plural and conditional metrics can be applied across different contexts.
By aligning with global initiatives such as DORA, the Leiden Manifesto, CoARA, as well as with the work of the CWTS UNESCO Chair on Diversity and Inclusion in Global Science, the project operationalises responsible assessment principles through open infrastructures and participatory methodologies. Its interdisciplinary consortium, spanning Europe, Latin America, and Africa, will collaborate through secondments, peer learning, and training activities, ensuring that outputs are transferable and sustainable.
OpenRAM will contribute towards the creation of federated open data infrastructures, participatory evaluative frameworks, and multilingual training programmes aimed at introducing more reflective forms of research assessment across the research ecosystems of the OpenRAM partners. Scientifically it widens what counts in evaluation, economically it reduces dependence on proprietary systems through open tools, and societally it supports more equitable recognition of research aligned with local and global challenges. OpenRAM overall ambition is to deliver practical frameworks and tools to make responsible research assessment a reality.
OpenRAM is first and foremost a staff exchange project aimed at exchanging researchers across different research ecosystems, particularly between the Global South and Europe, with these exchanges and visits as its main resource.