OSF

Data Publishing
Preregistration
last modified

February 18, 2026

What is it?

The Open Science Framework (OSF) is a cloud-based open-source research project management tool that supports researchers throughout the active research stage. It facilitates collaboration, connects services across the research life cycle, materials, and other research objects for private use or public sharing. The OSF is developed by the Center of Open Science (COS) that strives to increase openness, integrity, and reproducibility of research. This is in line with the VU open science commitment where the aim is to make the process of creating and sharing scientific knowledge more transparent, inclusive and equitable.

  • As a collaboration tool, OSF helps research teams work on projects privately or make them publicly accessible for broad dissemination.
  • As a workflow system, OSF enables connections to the many products researchers already use, streamlining their process and increasing efficiency.
  • Researchers can manage files, data, code, and protocols in one centralised location and easily build custom organisation for their unique needs.
  • Integrated metadata support on project level improves findability and reuse of research materials. Soon content on OSF will support FAIR metadata for all files, which will even further enhance responsible preservation and discovery.

Read more about OSF best practices for new OSF users in OSF Quick Start.

What can it be used for?

OSF can be used during the active research stage. It can be used for preregistration, projects or preprints:

  1. Preregistration of your research ideas - OSF Support.

  2. Projects: See the video Welcome to OSF Projects - OSF Support.

    Whitin an OSF project you can store, share and collaborate with your colleagues. You can invite both internal and external collaborators to different components within your project. You can choose to have your project open, for everyone to read, or you can choose to have it closed for up to four years of embargo. It is possible to create a DOI for your research project, see the manual Create DOIs (OSF Projects) - OSF Support.

  3. Preprints: OSF can also be used to publish your preprints. See the manual Creating a Preprint - OSF Support, which describes in seven steps how you can publish a preprint. Please note that you have to submit it to a community preprint service. You can select a preprint service that matches best with your discipline. When your preprint is approved, it will be linked to VU Amsterdam and listed in the VU preprint overview on OSF.