Common principles for open science have been agreed upon by UNESCO’s General Conference participants.

It was hoped that by adopting the first worldwide framework, science would become more egalitarian and inclusive, and that international scientific cooperation would improve.

Covid-19 has brought into focus how open science practices like open access to scientific publications, the sharing of scientific data, and collaboration beyond the scientific community can speed up research and strengthen links between science policy and society.’ UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said in a statement:

To ensure that research discoveries are valuable to everyone, the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science will help to promote open practices and inspire increased endorsement of open science.’

Most scientific papers are now only accessible to those who pay for them — down from 70% to 30% in only the last two years for articles on Covid-19 alone.

According to UNSECO, open scientific standards have only existed at the regional, national, and institutional level up until now. The Recommendation has been adopted by 193 countries, all of which have pledged to adhere to the same open research principles and embrace a common path.

The Recommendation urges Member States to establish regional and international funding structures for open science and to ensure that all publicly funded research adheres to open science’s principles and values.

Furthermore, it involves the development of a framework for those who seek to participate in open science to outline the needed skills and abilities. Researchers from a variety of fields and phases of their career are among these stakeholders.

The following seven areas should be given priority in the implementation of the Recommendation by Member States:

• Encouraging a common understanding of open science, its benefits and obstacles, and its different paths to open research; Creating an enabling policy climate for open science.
• Investing in open science infrastructure and services;
• In order for researchers and other stakeholders to participate in open science, we should invest in training, education, digital literacy, and capacity development
• Fostering open science and harmonizing the incentives for open science;
• promoting open science approaches that are new and innovative at many phases of the research process;
• Aiming to reduce digital, technological, and knowledge gaps by promoting international and multi-stakeholder cooperation in the open scientific setting.

Every four years, the Member States will report on their progress.