A session of the 2024 World Science and Technology Development Forum takes place in Beijing, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo courtesy of the 2024 World Science and Technology Development Forum]

The 2024 World Science and Technology Development Forum (WSTDF) hosted a session on "Open Science Infrastructure: Building a Collaborative Platform for the Sciences Decade" on Oct. 23 in Beijing. Experts from various countries engaged in discussions about the latest trends in open science.

The session also marked the release of the Recommendations for Collaboration in Open Science Infrastructure, outlining a vision for the Sciences Decade — a U.N.-designated period from 2024 to 2033 focused on advancing sustainable development through global scientific cooperation.

Participants emphasized that the recommendations not only implement the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science but also represent China's proactive response to global challenges in the sci-tech sector.

Contributing Chinese insights to global open science

Open science has become a vital global initiative in scientific research. UNESCO endorses it as essential for improving research quality, output, and accessibility. This approach has now become the accepted framework worldwide. The recommendations released at WSTDF underscored China's commitment to contributing to a global open science framework.

Shahbaz Khan, director and representative of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, praised China's role in advancing global open science. "Open science infrastructure also aligns very much with Chinese government policies on prosperity and people, and it underpins the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," he stated.

As a key player in global open science, China amended its law on scientific and technological progress in December 2021, promoting open science and formally recognizing its role in scientific innovation and governance. In 2022, the country introduced the Recommendations for Conduct in International Research Collaborations at the 5th World Laureates Forum, advocating eight globally recognized research values, including open science.

Yang Wei, chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST)-U.N. Consultative Committee on Open Science and Global Partnership, professor at Zhejiang University, and member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), highlighted China's efforts to foster open science during his keynote address. He noted ongoing plans to establish an open science platform to enhance global collaboration.

Manzoor Hussain Soomro, founding president of the Economic Cooperation Organization Science Foundation, acknowledged China's leadership in open science, stating, "In open science, I think China has taken the lead and is helping UNESCO as well."

Last month, the U.N. Summit of the Future adopted the Global Digital Compact, establishing principles for the future of global digital technology. Khan emphasized China's active engagement, noting its leadership in initiatives to enhance AI capacity and overcome associated barriers.

Supporting the Sciences Decade through open science infrastructure

In August 2023, the U.N. General Assembly declared 2024-2033 the "International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development". The recommendations released at WSTDF this year aim to create inclusive and open science infrastructure to foster the scientific culture essential for a sustainable world, supporting the objectives of the Sciences Decade.

"Open science infrastructure is vital for promoting global scientific innovation and cooperation," Yang explained. "This collaborative platform allows the global scientific community to share data, resources, and technologies to collectively tackle challenges like climate change and energy crises."

The Recommendations for Collaboration in Open Science Infrastructure address critical challenges from technical standards and infrastructure scale to political, economic and ethical issues, calling for building a global network based on open principles, sustainable development, and mutual trust.

Khan reiterated the alignment of open science infrastructure with the U.N. SDGs, noting its unique advantages in addressing major challenges such as climate change and food security.

Cultivating a scientific research highland through open science

In today's world of rapid scientific advancement and global competition, open science has emerged as a crucial strategy for nations seeking to enhance their innovation capabilities and achieve leadership in science and technology. China has been working to improve its scientific innovation system by promoting open data sharing, aiming to build itself into a global innovation hub.

Khan highlighted collaborative efforts in open science. He stated, "We are working on open science ideas for water management with China as well as other countries, and we are working on biodiversity and open science and linking with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. We have the UNESCO center with the Academy of Engineering, which is working on open science data for disaster risk reduction."

Francesco Faiola, a researcher at the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences of the CAS, praised China's open science environment. "I frequently draw from global and Chinese open databases, such as the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database and data-sharing platforms from institutions like the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences. These resources have deepened my understanding of PFAS distribution and toxicity mechanisms, significantly enhancing the efficiency of my research," he said.

Building a community with a shared future for mankind

Open science promotes transparency and sharing. China is advancing open science as part of its efforts to integrate into global governance and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Khan remarked on the importance of open science in South-South cooperation, stating, "The concept of a community with a shared future for mankind is a very important part of the link with China, especially its focus on the Global South and helping developing countries. We are working with a number of institutions supported by the Chinese government. Like with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, there is a big data center that is helping nations achieve sustainable development."

Yang also noted, "The relative lag of some developing countries in reaching sustainable development goals is largely due to insufficient openness in scientific and educational resources. This encompasses various issues, including food security, water resources, disease prevention and control, education access, and technological advancement. We aim to tackle these challenges through the promotion of open science."

Experts at the meeting emphasized that the recommendations reflect China's strong commitment to advancing open science. They called on countries worldwide to deepen multilateral cooperation, share scientific research achievements, collaboratively address global challenges, and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

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