The ICTS SOCIB works to consolidate an environment conducive to high-quality research and establishes good practices in Open Science, scientific integrity, equality, transparency, and good governance.
Open Science
At the ICTS SOCIB, we adhere to the Open Science policies of the European Commission and the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities. We furthermore support the creation of a more open, transparent, collaborative, sustainable, and inclusive global scientific communication system. In this way, we pursue a greater impact and reach of our research results and applications, as well as the dissemination and exploitation of educational resources and metocean data.
In this context, we align with the Spanish National Strategy for Open Science (ENCA) 2023 – 2027 and with the Recommendations for Open Science of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Open Science represents the evolution of the way scientific knowledge is produced, funded, communicated, and evaluated. This paradigm shift is characterized by open access to research results, the use of digital platforms based on open code, and the opening of the entire scientific process, including practices such as open peer review, open educational resources, the promotion of citizen science, and the development of new ways to measure research performance. These changes are incorporated in Law 17/2022, of September 5, which amends Law 14/2011, of June 1, on Science, Technology, and Innovation (Article 37).
The six dimensions of Open Science are:
Open access to research results, data, and outreach resources
Since 2020, we have maintained a structural collaboration with DIGITAL.CSIC. Through this alliance, we assign DOIs to our research resources and data through the institutional membership of DataCite managed by the Unit of Scientific Information Resources for Research (URICI) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), which includes the institutional repository DIGITAL.CSIC.
Moreover, since 2022, the SOCIB Data Repository has been recognized with the CoreTrustSeal, qwhich ensures the management of research data in line with the requirements of the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable).
Since November 2023, we have had an institutional repository, designed based on Good Practices for COAR repositories.
A new culture of scientific evaluation
At SOCIB, we commit to new ways of measuring research performance in line with the principles of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), the LEIDEN Manifesto for research metrics and the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA). To this end, we signed the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment - CoARA in November 2022. Furthermore, we align with the Spanish National Strategy for Open Science (ENCA) 2023 – 2027, which progressively contemplates the use of quantitative bibliometric indicators related to the impact of journals (JCR Journal Citation Reports and SJR SCImago Journal Rank) in the evaluation of the research staff's curricular merits, gradually incorporating qualitative indicators.
From ICTS SOCIB, we advocate and promote the use of internationally recognized criteria that value the diversity of scientific and technical contributions beyond scientific publications, such as outreach and scientific advisory, scientific management, training, knowledge transfer, and the impact of research results on society.
Spain is the second country with the highest number of CoARA member signatories, with institutions such as the CSIC, Crue Spanish Universities, the Spanish National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA), and the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT). These memberships exemplify the commitment of Spanish institutions that, along with SOCIB, support this paradigm shift.
Scientific integrity
At ICTS SOCIB, we believe that scientific integrity is the essential foundation of our work. The principles and values of scientific integrity inspire responsible conduct and good practices throughout all phases of our activities.
- Conception
- Proposal/Approach
- Execution of research
- Data management
- Communication and dissemination of results
- Supervision of scientific personnel training
- Research evaluation
- Scientific interaction among research personnel
At ICTS SOCIB, we believe that scientific integrity is key to:
- Safeguarding the foundations and principles of science, and promoting the advancement of knowledge.
- Sustaining and reaffirming society's trust in research and in R&D&I institutions, and giving greater solidity and utility to our work and public service.
- Consolidating research as a public good.
- Supporting and encouraging public investment in science.
- Protecting and promoting the prestige and career of personnel dedicated to research.
- Preventing pseudoscience and false beliefs in the general public.
- Generating public confidence in issues such as climate change.
Therefore, we align ourselves with the ethical principles and professional responsibilities related to research activity as outlined in the CSIC's Code of Good Scientific Practices, the Spanish National Declaration on Scientific Integrit, and the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity.
Scientific and technical work in equality
The ICTS SOCIB is committed to promoting a work environment that values and favors equality of opportunity between men and women. We want to continue making progress in this direction, and for this reason, we are working on the creation of the Equality Commission and the first Equality Plan of the ICTS SOCIB, in compliance with Organic Law 3/2007, of March 22, for the effective equality of women and men. This Equality Plan aims to eliminate all forms of existing discrimination and increase the visibility and recognition of the scientific and technical activity of women. Thus, we align ourselves with the current Law 14/2011, of June 1, on Science, Technology, and Innovation, which has among its general objectives: "To promote the inclusion of the gender perspective as a cross-cutting category in science, technology, and innovation, as well as a balanced presence of women and men in all areas of the Spanish System of Science, Technology, and Innovation".
It is worth highlighting that the European Research Area prioritizes "gender equality and the gender perspective in research, by promoting gender diversity to foster scientific excellence"; its measures are collected in the guide Gender equality: a strengthened commitment in Horizon Europe. Additionally, the UN, through the 2030 Agenda (Paris, September 25, 2015), established Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: "Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls." Among other targets, SDG 5 establishes: "Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life”.
Transparency and Good Governance
The ICTS SOCIB is an entity that falls within the scope of application of Law 19/2013, of December 9, on transparency, access to public information, and good governance. Therefore, in compliance with this law, we publish information related to our institutional organization and administrative structure, planning, programming, and subsidy activity, as well as the annual accounts, which are published in the Public Sector Annual Accounts Registry.
