Harmonising Knowledge: the story of CONCERT@SNSPA
Guest piece by Meenakshi Bharti, Open Research Assistant (CIVICA), LSE Library
Across Europe, social science is undergoing a quiet revolution. As global challenges demand transparent and credible research, CIVICA is leading the way through its commitment to Open Science by making knowledge accessible, reusable, and impactful for all.
To turn this vision into reality, CIVICA launched the Open Science Incubator Programme, a six-week initiative that helped member institutions build Open Science Communities (OSCs). These communities are now driving cultural change and embedding openness into research practices.
One recent success from the incubator programme is CONCERT@SNSPA, an Open Science project at the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration. Inspired by CIVICA’s framework, SNSPA transformed ambition into action by creating a collaborative, transparent research ecosystem that serves both academia and society.
Why This Matters
Open Science is not just an idea, it is a movement. Through CIVICA’s Incubator Programme and projects like CONCERT@SNSPA, the alliance is proving that openness can shape the future of social research.
The Vision: Architecture for Change
Open Science is more than access, it is about trust, impact, and shared responsibility. Staff at SNSPA understood that good intentions alone would not suffice; it needed a “strategic architecture”. Backed by a successful bid to the Romanian Ministry of Education, SNSPA secured 310,000 lei (approx. 62,000 Euros) through the Institutional Development Fund (FDI 2025). This was not just funding – it was a mandate to lead.
The Mission: Building Bridges, Not Walls
From May to November 2025, CONCERT@SNSPA set out to harmonise policy, people, and platforms. The results speak volumes:
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Policy with Purpose: A comprehensive Open Science strategy and formal policy replaced fragmented efforts with a clear roadmap.
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Digital Empowerment: The SNSPA Research Hub and the SNSPA Digital Repository, infrastructures implemented in the FDI 2024 SUCCES@SNSPA project developed last year, have been expanded. The institutional repository grew by 183 new references, making research outputs discoverable and reusable.
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Knowledge for All: An online dictionary of Open Science terms and a curated inventory of free training programs bridged the knowledge gap.
The Heartbeat: A Community of Change
Infrastructure alone cannot spark transformation. People do. That is why a core institutional community has been cultivated at SNSPA. This is a network of advocates and practitioners who believe in the power of openness. Some of their activities include:
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Capacity Building: Specialised training on Intellectual Property Rights, Open Access, and FAIR Data equipped researchers with practical skills.
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Global Insights: Through CIVICA, SNSPA welcomed Rosie Higman, Open Research Services Manager from LSE to share best practices on building Open Research Services.
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Listening First: Focus groups captured researchers’ perceptions, ensuring policies reflect real needs.
The Legacy: A Model for the Future
As the project concludes with a November 2025 roundtable, its impact endures. SNSPA has not only upgraded its research capacity, it has created a reproducible model for universities worldwide. By aligning with CIVICA’s vision, SNSPA demonstrates how strategic investment can concentrate efforts by harmonising policy, people, and platforms to make Open Science a reality.
To learn more about CIVICA opportunities, check our dedicated pages regularly, or contact civica@lse.ac.uk