In an interview with Open Access Government, Ana Persic, Programme Specialist for Science, Technology and Innovation Policies and Open Science, guides us through the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science
UNESCO issued a Recommendation on Open Science in 2021, which is a non-legally binding global instrument adopted by 194 countries. The Recommendation was formed through broad consultations with various stakeholders, including governments, researchers, and citizen scientists, to address different perspectives on open science.
In an interview with Open Access Government, UNESCO reveals how we define open science and introduces the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, the first international standard-setting instrument on open science. Find out about UNESCO’s Recommendation, which provides a common definition of open science, aiming to make scientific knowledge openly available and accessible, encouraging collaboration within the scientific community and with society.
Did you know the Recommendation aims to bridge conventional scientific knowledge with Indigenous and traditional knowledge systems to address local issues more effectively? Countries and institutions must adapt the Recommendation to their specific contexts, developing policies and strategies that align with their needs and environments.
Implementing open science requires a cultural shift in the scientific community, supported by appropriate policies, infrastructures, and incentives for researchers. Member States report to UNESCO on their progress in implementing the Recommendation every four years, allowing for monitoring and addressing gaps in open science initiatives.
Q. Can you introduce the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, the first international standard-setting instrument on open science?
The 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, is a landmark global framework and the first international standard-setting instrument on open science. This non-binding legal instrument, adopted by 194 countries, represents a collective commitment to advancing open science within the respective national contexts and jurisdictions.
To develop the Recommendation, UNESCO conducted an extensive two-year consultation with diverse stakeholders, including governments, researchers, librarians, data scientists, citizen scientists, technology experts, and various open science communities. This process was essential, as open science had previously been understood and practiced in different ways, with its various elements often addressed separately.
The Recommendation unifies these perspectives by providing a shared definition of open science, negotiated and agreed upon by UNESCO Member States. It establishes a comprehensive vision that makes scientific knowledge openly accessible and fosters collaboration across disciplines and with broader society.
Open science, as outlined in the Recommendation, consists of four key elements:
- Open access to scientific knowledge – Encompassing open access publications, open data, open educational resources, open-source software, and even open hardware.
- Open science infrastructures – Covering both digital and physical platforms that support the sharing and dissemination of scientific knowledge.
- Open engagement with society – Promoting broader participation in science through citizen science, scientific volunteering, and inclusive research practices.
- Dialogue with other knowledge systems – Encouraging interactions between conventional scientific knowledge and Indigenous or traditional knowledge systems to address complex global and local challenges.
By integrating these components, UNESCO’s Recommendation on Open Science envisions a more inclusive, collaborative, and transparent scientific ecosystem. It aims not only to make scientific products openly available but also to transform the very process of science, making it more inclusive, transparent, and more responsive to the needs of society.
Q. How does the Recommendation provide an internationally agreed definition, shared values, and guiding principles for open science?
The UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science was created precisely to address the fragmentation within the open science movement and to harness its full potential through a unified global framework. Recognising the need for a common understanding, UNESCO – an intergovernmental body – brought governments and other stakeholders together to establish an internationally agreed definition, shared values, and guiding principles for open science.
The Recommendation sets out not only a clear definition of open science but also a set of core values and principles, along with an ambitious agenda for action. It outlines seven key action areas to guide national and international efforts, ensuring that open science initiatives are aligned with a common vision. This framework enables countries to develop targeted action plans based on a shared direction, prioritising inclusivity and broad societal benefits.
At the heart of the Recommendation is the recognition that open science is about more than just free access to scientific outputs such as publications and data. It is fundamentally rooted in values of diversity, inclusion, equity, quality, and research integrity. These principles position science as a global public good, reinforcing its role in advancing knowledge for all and supporting the fulfillment of the human right to science, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
By fostering a consensus on these critical issues, the Recommendation ensures that open science is not only accessible but also ethical, inclusive, and impactful from local to global scales.
Q. Why does our interconnected world need open science to help solve complex social, environmental, and economic challenges and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals?
Open science is an excellent tool for addressing some of the most complex issues today. It brings scientists together to work within and across disciplines more efficiently through increased synergies and information sharing, allowing work to happen faster and be better organised.
Rather than working in isolation, researchers worldwide benefit from each other’s work, avoiding duplication of efforts and advancing knowledge collectively. This is particularly important for interdisciplinary research, where scientists from different fields collaborate to address complex issues – an approach that lies at the core of open science.
Beyond improving collaboration among scientists, open science also strengthens the connection between science and society. Researchers should not work in isolation from the communities that can benefit from their findings. Open science ensures that scientific knowledge is accessible, transparent, and inclusive, enabling societal actors to engage with and contribute to scientific advancements.
The reason why open science is so important – beyond the fact that it facilitates access to scientific publications or data – is that it opens up science to society.
To address today’s challenges effectively, there must be a stronger dialogue between science and society, particularly in areas where scientific knowledge directly impacts communities and influences decision-making on critical resources and policies.
We need to build trust in science, work on increasing transparency, and ensuring that science does not remain locked away in an ivory tower.
Q. How does open science support everyone’s right to participate in scientific advancement and benefit from it, as stated in Article 27.1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
The UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science serves as a global framework that encourages governments, institutions, and communities to adopt policies and strategies tailored to their specific contexts.
While there is no one-fits-all strategy to open science, the Recommendation provides a common vision that help different stakeholders develop policies, strategies and action plans suited to their disciplines, socioeconomic conditions, and local needs.
This flexibility allows each country or institution to translate the overarching vision of open science into concrete policies and instruments that operationalise the transition to open science.
Q. To what extent is the Recommendation meant to be used by all research institutes and organisations that practice, regulate and promote science, as well as by researchers and anyone concerned with the rules, policies and ethics of science?
Open science has vast potential, but there is also a lot of work in order to make it a reality. It cannot be done solely through open access or other isolated strategies; it is a whole system that needs to change, and the entire culture of science needs to shift as well.
As countries or institutions try to implement open science, research assessment and evaluation questions arise. How do you motivate researchers and other actors to embrace open science practices? Member States are encouraged to develop funding, incentives, and a system that enables open science, as well as policies and proper infrastructure.
There is really a cultural shift that needs to happen. It will not necessarily be easy, but it’s necessary given that science is increasingly critical to addressing both day-today problems as well as complex global issues.
Q. Do you want to add anything about the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science?
What makes the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science particularly relevant is that Member States are required to report back to UNESCO every four years on their progress in implementing the Recommendation. Adopted in 2021, the first official reporting cycle will conclude in 2025, providing a comprehensive analysis of advancements made and identifying areas that require further action.
This reporting process is crucial not only for tracking progress but also for identifying gaps and challenges that different countries may face in adopting open science principles. By assessing the national reports, UNESCO can support the development of targeted strategies and policies to address obstacles, ensuring that open science continues to evolve in an inclusive and effective manner.
