What's Happening?
The Center for Open Science (COS) has officially established an independent subsidiary organization in Brussels, Belgium. This new Belgian entity is formally recognized as an International Nonprofit Organization (INPO/AISBL) by Royal Decree, a legal structure
specifically designed for international nonprofit organizations operating across national borders. While legally independent from the U.S.-based COS, the Brussels organization will function as an integrated part of the global COS strategy, sharing its mission, strategy, and brand. This move aims to deepen partnerships, facilitate participation in European initiatives, and pursue opportunities that advance the global mission of increasing openness, integrity, and trustworthiness in research. The establishment builds upon COS's existing collaborations with researchers, institutions, funders, policymakers, and open science communities throughout Europe, creating avenues for more sustained engagement.
Why It's Important?
The establishment of a European base for the Center for Open Science is significant for the advancement of open science principles globally, including their influence on U.S. research and academic practices. By having a formal presence in Brussels, COS gains greater flexibility to engage with European institutions, research organizations, funders, and communities. This enhanced engagement can lead to more harmonized international standards and practices in research, potentially influencing U.S. funding agencies and academic institutions to adopt similar open science policies. The move also allows COS to participate more fully in initiatives that shape the future of research, fostering a more interconnected global research system. This could result in broader partnerships and a stronger funding base for open science initiatives, ultimately benefiting the resilience and impact of global research efforts, including those originating from the U.S.
What's Next?
The new Belgian organization will focus on several core program areas, including Open Science Infrastructure, Open Science Solutions, Capacity Building, Assessing Research Practices, and Reimagining Research. COS plans to collaborate with European and global partners on research, infrastructure, policy, capacity building, and other initiatives to make open science the default. This intentional and incremental approach will involve listening, learning, partnering, and co-creating, rather than duplicating existing work or building parallel infrastructure. The organization aims to understand the needs and opportunities across different research systems and work alongside others to advance shared goals. This strategic evolution also involves significant changes to OSF, narrowing its scope to focus resources on functions where it is best positioned to advance open science, while strengthening connections with other infrastructure within a broader system.
Beyond the Headlines
This strategic expansion by the Center for Open Science highlights a growing global trend towards greater transparency and integrity in scientific research. The establishment of a European hub underscores the recognition that open science is not merely a national endeavor but a global imperative requiring international collaboration and standardized practices. This move could accelerate the adoption of open science principles in regions where they are less prevalent, fostering a more equitable and accessible research landscape worldwide. Furthermore, by focusing on specific areas and integrating with existing infrastructure, COS is demonstrating a pragmatic approach to systemic change, emphasizing effectiveness and collaboration over unilateral expansion. This could serve as a model for other non-profit organizations seeking to influence global practices in complex fields, promoting a more interconnected and efficient approach to addressing shared challenges in research.
