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| Robert-Jan Smits | |
|---|---|
| Name | Robert-Jan Smits |
| Birth date | 1959 |
| Birth place | Netherlands |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Occupation | European civil servant; science policy advisor |
Robert-Jan Smits is a Dutch-born European science policy leader and former senior civil servant who played a prominent role in shaping research and open access policy across the European Union. He served in senior posts within the European Commission and later led initiatives in higher education and research alliances, becoming a visible advocate for open science through the development of major initiatives. Smits is associated with policy debates involving Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, and the Plan S open access framework.
Born in the Netherlands in 1959, Smits studied at Dutch institutions before embarking on a career in European public service. He trained in areas related to public administration and European Union affairs, engaging with networks linked to Leiden University, Utrecht University, and Dutch national research organisations. Early contacts with the European Commission and Dutch ministries framed his later trajectory into science and innovation policy across the European Research Area and Member States.
Smits joined the European Commission where he advanced through directorates focused on research and innovation and policies spanning the Lisbon Strategy, Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), and strategic partnerships with organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the European Investment Bank. He worked on interactions with European Research Council, European Institute of Innovation and Technology, and national funding agencies including the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. His portfolio involved coordination with the European Parliament, Council of the European Union, and stakeholders including universities like University of Oxford and Sorbonne University.
Appointed Director-General of the Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Smits oversaw implementation of Horizon 2020 and preparations for successor programmes such as Horizon Europe. In that capacity he engaged with commissioners including Máire Geoghegan-Quinn and Carlos Moedas, and liaised with agencies such as the European Research Council and the European Science Foundation. His remit intersected with major initiatives including the European Innovation Council, the Joint Research Centre, and collaborations with international partners like United States research agencies, Japan, and China.
Smits was a leading proponent of open access and played a key role in articulating and promoting Plan S, working with funders such as cOAlition S, the Wellcome Trust, the European Research Council, and national funders including Science Europe members. He advocated for immediate open access to research outputs from initiatives tied to Horizon 2020 and championed infrastructures such as OpenAIRE, Zenodo, and institutional repositories at European University Association members. His positions aligned with international debates involving publishers like Elsevier, Springer Nature, and Wiley, and with critics from academic societies including Royal Society and learned societies across Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.
After leaving his Commission post, Smits led and advised pan-European projects such as the creation of a European University Alliance, engaging with consortia involving Leiden University, KU Leuven, Utrecht University, University of Barcelona, and University of Milan. He accepted roles with organisations including the European University Association and consultancy or advisory positions with foundations and funders like the KWF Dutch Cancer Society, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and national ministries in Poland and Portugal. Smits participated in forums involving the European Commission, European Parliament, Council of the European Union, and transnational networks such as Erasmus+ consortia and the European Research Area Committee.
Smits's outspoken advocacy for Plan S and swift implementation of open access policies attracted criticism from academic publishers including Elsevier and Springer Nature, and from scholars at institutions such as University of Cambridge and University College London who raised concerns about business models, academic freedom, and transitional costs. Debates involved funders like the Wellcome Trust and organisations such as Science Europe over embargo periods, hybrid journals, and transformative agreements. His leadership style and fast-moving policy pushes prompted scrutiny in media outlets and commentary from stakeholders including national research ministries in Spain and Italy.
During his career Smits received recognition from European research organisations and academic institutions, including acknowledgments from the European Research Council and honours at events hosted by bodies such as the European University Association and national academies like the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has been invited to deliver keynote lectures at conferences organised by LERU, EUA, and the Gordon Research Conferences.
Category:Dutch civil servants Category:1959 births Category:People associated with the European Commission