As we strive to foster a global research ecosystem, the recent responses to our Call to Action highlighting the need to protect vulnerable infrastructure and support research independence have shed light on the challenges and successes experienced by advocates in the field. Numerous contributors shared their experiences, emphasizing that while the will to implement open policies is present, actualizing these changes remains a daunting task. Yet, progress is made by coming together and sharing resources and efforts. In this post, we want to explore a thread of commonality in the stories that we have received to date.
Many respondents noted significant hurdles in enacting open policies within their institutions, primarily due to entrenched inertia. Organizations often cling to legacy systems, creating resistance to embracing open infrastructures even when the benefits are clear. Dr. Muhammad Imtiaz Subhani from XploreOpen elaborated on these obstacles, mentioning concerns about sustainability and funding constraints. His use of resources like UNESCO's Recommendation on Open Science and FORCE11 principles illustrates the breadth of information available to support advocates but highlights that knowledge alone is not enough to overcome institutional reluctance. Some of our respondents mentioned building collaborative frameworks and utilizing established guidelines to overcome that reluctance.
The visibility of these efforts plays a vital role in inspiring action across the community and can serve as resources for others just starting their journey. Demmy Verbeke from KU Leuven emphasized the importance of publicly documenting their initiatives to document the work that has been done at their institution and help others looking for inspiration on how to approach this work. KU Leuven has documented their work on this topic with publications like "Open Investment Evolutions at KU Leuven Libraries," which can serve as a resource for other institutions striving for similar changes.
A notable action shared by several contributors revolves around integrating commitments to open-source solutions in procurement policy documentation. Chris Hagerbaumer from OpenAQ expressed interest in revisiting his organization's procurement policies to ensure they explicitly support open-source and open-data initiatives whenever feasible. Such commitments are crucial for enhancing transparency and creating a unified stance towards fostering open infrastructures. We encourage other organizations to reach out to us if you are considering similar policy changes or if you have tried them and have experiences to share.
Respondents also shared successful examples that underline the potential of community engagement and localized initiatives. For instance, Dr. Subhani's capacity-building workshops in Pakistan led to the adoption of open metadata standards among local journals, resulting in improved research discoverability and contributing to long-lasting open infrastructures. By creating and activating networks of people with shared interests, the impact of open practices can be magnified and adapted for different situations.
These responses have a common thread—no one is in this alone. There are people and organizations with experience in taking action who have shared their stories to help others. Organizations can take specific actions with their own policies and practices that have an impact, and communities of people interested in moving together on a shared open journey to amplify that work.
Do you have a story to share, an action to take, or a resource to recommend? Contact us at engagement@investinopen.org—we'd be happy to hear from you.