Governing open science in the absence of national coordination

a longitudinal institutional case study

Resumo

Objective: This report presents a longitudinal institutional case study of the University of Milan, a large multidisciplinary university located in Northern Italy. It focuses on the development, consolidation, and long-term implementation of Open Science policies, infrastructures, and support services over a period of approximately twenty years. Methodology: The analysis situates the institutional experience within the Italian national context, one with limited regulatory, financial, and monitoring support for Open Science. This structural exogenous condition has resulted in a fragmented, uneven, and largely voluntaristic adoption of Open Science practices, characterised by a weak policy enforcement and the absence of coordinated national infrastructures. Results: In this context, the implementation of Open Science at the University of Milan has been primarily shaped by European policy frameworks, participation in international research alliances, and institutional governance choices, factors which have influenced both strategic planning and operational practices, compensating, in part, for the lack of national-level coordination. The study describes the establishment of a dedicated central directorate responsible for Open Science policies, monitoring, and training; the development of institutional repositories and diamond Open Access publishing infrastructures; and the implementation of structured and continuous training programs. Particular attention is devoted to governance arrangements, the evidence-based operational approach, metadata curation workflows, monitoring practices, and the integration of Open Science into research evaluation processes. Conclusion: The report argues that the institutional positioning of Open Science outside the library system and within structures responsible for quality assurance and research evaluation has been a key factor in ensuring the sustainability of the multiple initiatives, their acceptance by the academic community, and the progressive development of the institutional Open Science model. The case highlights the central role that governance models, information infrastructures, and professional competences play in shaping Open Science practices in contexts where there is a limited national policy guidance and support.