Fourth, our analysis corroborates the need to ensure professional returns to promote open science Fecher et al., 2015; LERU Research Data Working Group, 2013). Developing relevant and effective performance indicators and incorporating them in career advancement and funding processes was highlighted in our study and others (Peekhaus and Proferes, 2016; Borgman, 2015; European Commission, 2017; Wilsdon, 2015; Harley, 2013). A report on research data in the UK recently noted that professional incentives for researchers to share remain weak at best (Open Research Data Task Force, 2017). In the context of open access publication, several studies note that current entrenched academic reward structures can stymie new modes of research and communication (Peekhaus and Proferes, 2016; Eger et al., 2015; Xia, 2010; Bjork, 2004). Advocacy, partnership-building and policy-alignment within and across institutions wishing to encourage openness (including governments, funders, journals and publishers) will be important to evolve reward structures that match policy goals and instigate the desired cultural shift (Leonelli et al., 2015; Neylon and Wu, 2009; Munafò et al., 2017).