Open Science Days 2025

This years Open Science Days have the theme:

“Open Science in the Light of Geopolitical Polarization”

The current geopolitical landscape is characterized by rising political and trade tensions as well as heightened economic interest in scientific innovation. This polarization has significant implications for the global scientific community, particularly in the pursuit of Open Science. Could the naivety of science be exploited? Where is the line between scientific idealism and naivety?
As major global powers engage in systemic rivalries, the conduct of science is increasingly influenced by national security concerns, export controls, and sanctions that can restrict the free flow of ideas, data, and researchers across borders. Meanwhile, global challenges such as pandemics, climate change, and technology-based development require international scientific collaboration and universal knowledge development. The normative nature of the scientific ethos is increasingly in tension with political forces that demand that science be both vigilant and competitive.

How can Open Science – with its emphasis on transparency, collaboration, efficiency and validity of scientific results – be sustained in the light of these competing interests?

During this year’s Open Science Days, we will explore these tensions by discussing the interrelations of Open Science, political interests, and innovation. We will ask how research organizations can reconcile Open Science policies with resilience and competitiveness.