The University of Lille's open archive is changing platforms: LillOA is moving to HAL
In 2018, the University of Lille launched LillOA, its institutional open archive. A formative project and the basis for the implementation of the University's open science policy, LillOA is nonetheless suffering from technical obsolescence that has made its overhaul unavoidable.
LillOA is undergoing a transformation
LillOA - the institutional open archive based on DSpace and interconnected with HAL - was a formative project for open science at the University. By offering tailored and adaptable services (connection to internal tools such as the directory or Sampra, ease of deposit, adaptation to the needs of the University of Lille community), it enabled the development of open archive deposit practices at a time when HAL did not yet have the resources it has today. LillOA has greatly contributed to an open access rate of over 70% for the University's scientific publications in 2023.
But times have changed. While LillOA has become technically obsolete and difficult to upgrade, posing significant IT security risks, HAL has grown significantly, with enhanced features, strong national momentum and a stronger connection to the entire research ecosystem. Almost seven years after its launch, following an in-depth study conducted by the Open Science unit, the President of the University has taken the decision to close the current LillOA platform in January 2026, after which the University of Lille will rely exclusively on its HAL portal, renamed lilloa.hal.science.
Want to find out more? Read our full report (French only)
What's ahead: training sessions and Open science advisors continuing to serve the University's research community
The tool is changing, but not the team! Don't hesitate to contact us: find your advisors
To support you with the transition from LillOA to HAL, we are also offering five webinars (one in English) between now and January, which you can find in our program for the year