We are delighted to announce that IReL has been selected as a finalist in the Data Innovation, Open Data & Insights category of the 2026 Ireland eGovernment Awards for its work on the National Open Access Monitor.
Launched in 2023 and funded by the Higher Education Authority through the National Open Research Forum (NORF), the Monitor provides Ireland’s first openly available, nationally coordinated platform for monitoring open access research outputs. Built in partnership with OpenAIRE, it brings together data from across the research ecosystem to provide transparent, reproducible insights for policymakers, funders, institutions, researchers and the public.
Susan Reilly, IReL, said:
“The development of the National Open Access Monitor has been a truly collaborative effort with input from stakeholders from across the Irish research community. It’s fantastic to have this effort recognised. The Monitor demonstrates how we can work collectively to leverage open data and open infrastructure to support evidence-based decision-making while making publicly funded research more visible, accessible and accountable.”
This recognition highlights the commitment to open data, transparency, and evidence-based decision-making embodied in Ireland’s National Action Plan for Open Research. The Monitor is an international exemplar of best practice in the monitoring of open research and contributes to the wider European Open Research landscape.
Congratulations to everyone involved in the development, governance and ongoing success of the National Open Access Monitor, Ireland. View the finalists at the Ireland eGovernment Awards website: https://digitalgovawards.com/finalists/.